Convert RGB image to L*a*b*, assuming input image is sRGB.
rgb = imread('peppers.png');
cform = makecform('srgb2lab');
lab = applycform(rgb, cform);
b = lab(:,:,3);
rgb = imread('peppers.png');
cform = makecform('srgb2lab');
lab = applycform(rgb, cform);
lab = lab2double(lab);
L = lab(:,:1);
b = lab(:,:,3);