The MODIFIER is a TexEnvMap and the brown TEXTURE is a CubeMap. The image has been photoshopped to remove all the "bad highlight" slots of the shader and fit all of the elements into one picture.
Yeah, the improved UnwrapUVW modifier in Max 8 is hot. You'll easily be cutting your unwrapping times in half, and usually more. It's the closest to "fun" unwrapping gets.
You can select polygons and use Detach in the Editable Poly rollout of the Modify panel to make the selected polygons into a separate unique object, if that's what you mean.
Update! I have modified the mempo (facemask) a little bit, optimized the edgeflow, and changed a few proportion issues. Please C&C, it is very appreciated! Thanks!
yeah i'm still toying with the ergonomics. overall its incredibly awesome. i love it to bits :D only wish there was more modifier buttons on eithe side.