Step 9: Convert The Original Image Back To RGB Color

Now that we've finished working on our displacement map, we can start creating our window blinds effect in the original image. Before we do that though, we need to convert the image from Lab color back to RGB color, which is the color mode it was in initially. To do that, go back up to the Image menu at the top of the screen, choose Mode, and then choose RGB Color:

As soon as you switch back to RGB color, you'll see the color return to your image:

If you look in your Channels palette, you'll see that the "Lightness", "a" and "b" channels have been replaced with a "Red", "Green", and "Blue" channel, and the composite "Lab" channel at the top has been replaced with a composite "RGB" channel:

Switch back over to the Layers palette at this point, since we no longer need to work with the individual channels.

Step 10: Add A New Blank Layer

We're going to create our window blinds on their own separate layer, so click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:

This adds a new blank layer named "Layer 1" above the Background layer, which is the layer that contains our original photo:

Step 11: Select The Rectangular Marquee Tool

We're going to create our first window blind shadow. Since the shadows will be long, narrow rectangles, the easiest way to create them will be to use the Rectangular Marquee Tool, so select it from the Tools palette or simply press M on your keyboard to select it:

Step 12: Drag Out A Thin Rectangular Selection Horizontally Across The Image

With the Rectangular Marquee Tool selected, drag out a narrow selection across the image from left to right, somewhere near the top:

Step 13: Fill The Selection With Black

Once you've dragged out your selection, go back up to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and once again choose Fill. We're going to fill our selection with black, so set the Use option to Black:

Click OK to exit out of the dialog box and Photoshop will fill the selection with black: