Creating Alpha

[Elg]

So I know for before inserting each editied texture I need to update the normal and alpha files to go with. I can create a new normal map easily, but having trouble with the Alpha. Each time I create a new alpha channel it's all black.

So I have a finished "_colour" file, finished "_n" file, but the "_ao" is just all black and that's not right.

So what i'm asking is, how do I create a new alpha file to go with my image before injecting in to X-Packer?

Thanks

[Cave Waverider]

What I usually do is make a copy of my texture. Then I change it to grayscale. Now I adjust it. The lighter the part of the alpha texture is, the shinier it will be (but it also depends on the shader used, as it could treat it differently). It's mostly important to make your shiny parts of the texture as white as possible and the non-shiny ones as black as possible.
When done, copy and paste the newly created texture into the alpha channel (select the alpha channel in Photoshop for your normal map only and then paste).
That should do the trick.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Cave Waverider

[Elg]

Thank you for the tips!