Atomistic modeling of the deposition of Co, Cr, or Fe on a Ag(100) substrate is performed using the Bozzolo-Ferrante-Smith method for alloys, in order to describe the similarities and differences between the three cases. An atom-by-atom description of the deposition process explains the growth patterns from an early stage, establishing a criterion for the determination of the ensuing growth modes. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.