Why are normal maps red?

[Rastar]

Sorry, simple question:

 

Why do the normal maps in LE3 look red (both imported as well as generated ones). I am familiar with blueish or sometimes greenish ones, depending if the y or z axis is up. But red?

[shadmar]

Z is stored in the alpha channel. So blue isn't used.

[Rastar]

Thanks!

[Josh]

DXTC compression allocates more bits for the alpha channel than the blue channel.