Normal Maps/Bump Maps help

[clownie]

hi, im a big noob to 3d programming and design, but i can't seem to find a straight answer to my question:
How do you create those bump maps/specular maps/normal maps as is shown in the image gallery section? I've been trying to use photoshop for that, but my results have been nil.

Any explanation would be greatly appreciated...
Clownie

[deckerego]

You basically just create B/W versions of the texture, with greater intensity of the map corresponding to a greater value to the depth.

A Blender tutorial that briefly references it is at http://www.blender.org/modules/documentation/htmlI/x5336.html - it may help. You might also want to download the CrystalCore app - it has the source for their models/meshes, several of which use bump mapping.