This is an image that I enjoyed creating and I would like to share it with you. 

But before we start, let’s set things up first.  Go to Edit>Preferences and set the Units in inches. Then go to Edit>preferences>Guides and Grids and set up the Gridline at 1” with 4 sub-divisions. To help us line up the following images we will use the Snap to Grid commands so on the Top Menu Bar (TMB) go to View>Grid>View>Snap to Grid.  The benefits of this will be apparent later.  Right we are all set to go

Open the  Before. image.  The size of this image is 12” x 12” .  Save this image to your desktop and make a second copy of the image and change the size to 9" x9" and save it.  Go back to the larger image and then Select>All>Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur>Radius 100 pixels.  This is going to form the background of our image, and you will now have a nice soft background of pastel colours.   Now open the smaller image..  The size of this image is deliberately smaller than the Before one at 9” x 9” and with the grid that we set up it’s divided into nine one inch squares wide.  Make sure that the Rulers are showing on your image (Shift+Ctrl+R).  We are now going to slice this image into three pieces, so use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (RMT) un-feathered to drag a section 3” wide x 9” long from the left-hand top corner side of the image and Edit>Copy.  Click on the blurred image and Edit>Paste, and use the Move Tool to drag the slice towards the left-had side.  We will fine-tune the position later. 

In the Layers Palette name this layer Left Panel.   We are now ready for another slice so click on the smaller image and hit Ctrl+D to get rid of the old selection.  Use the RMT to make another selection in the centre of the image, the same size as the left-hand side of the image and copy and paste the slice to the main image  Repeat this method to cut the right-hand slice and paste it to the main image. We have finished with the smaller image so close it down.  Re-name the extra layers Centre and Right respectively.

The main image will now have a blurred background with three slices that we will want to evenly spread out.  Select the Move Tool and in its option bar at the top, make sure there is a tick in Auto Select Layer.  Decide where you want the slices to be, so click on each slice and use the Move Tool to move it into position.  I think you will find, because of the way we set up the Grid that you should have three small squares at each side.  This is where you will find the Snap to Grid facility so useful for accurate spacing and positioning.   When you are satisfied with all the positioning go to Ctrl+’ to get rid of the Grid.

Now we need to separate the slices from the background so click on the left-hand panel to select it.  Change the Foreground colour to red (or your own colour choice) then Edit>Stroke(Outline Selection)>3pixels>location Inside>OK.  Your left panel should now have a nice coloured line around it. 

Repeat this exercise with the other two panels.  We can make the panels stand out even more.  Go to Window>Effects and when the Effects panel opens you will see four icons under the Effects name and a box to the right.  Click on the arrowhead and from the drop-down menu select Inner Shadows and select the first one and Apply.  Repeat this with the other two panels. 

One final refinement.  In the Layers palette Select the Background layer.  Then Filter>Noise>Add Noise>5%>Gaussian>Monochromatic.  Job done