Creating alphas out of 3D models or other methods?

Elarionus

I've been messing around with using Alphas to model a bit quicker for large scenes (instead of making a high poly and low poly model and baking), and while I tried to use my own for a while, I found some free ones online that are absolutely AMAZING. They have perfect gradients, they have perfect grey values, and so much detail to them. Mine have almost all been black and white exclusively, with a few gradients and making use of the "outer glow" in Photoshop. How did these people make these insanely good alphas? Are they somehow done by hand in Photoshop? Or is there a good way to make them out of my 3D models (for future "kitbashing")?

Eric Chadwick

Zbrush.

ActionDawg

In addition to zbrush you can use your modeling package to make a high poly which you bake down to a plane, or substance designer or equivalent sort of like you would photoshop.