Alternating　directions　methods　(ADMs)　are　very　effective　for　solving　convex　optimization　problems　with　separable　structure.　However,　when　these　methods　are　applied　to　solve　convex　optimization　problems　with　three　separable　operators,　their　convergence　results　have　not　been　established　as　yet.　In　this　paper,　we　consider　a　class　of　constrained　matrix　optimization　problems.　The　problem　is　first　reformulated　into　a　convex　optimization　problem　with　three　separable　operators,　then　it　is　solved　by　a　proposed　partial　parallel　splitting　method.　The　proposed　method　combines　the　parallel　splitting　(augmented　Lagrangian)　method　(PSALM)　and　the　alternating　directions　method　(ADM),　and　it　is　referred　to　as　PADALM　in　short.　The　main　difference　between　PADALM　and　PSALM　is　that　in　PADALM,　two　operators　are　handled　first　by　a　parallel　method,　then　the　third　operator　and　the　former　two　are　dealt　with　by　an　alternating　method.　Finally,　the　convergence　result　for　PADALM　is　established　and　numerical　results　are　provided　to　show　the　efficacy　of　PADALM　and　its　superiority　over　PSALM.　©　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.