The mask builder hasn't changed in the last few releases. To get rid of the default grunge, set the Grunge Intensity to 0 and also the Noisiness in the AO and Curvature settings to 0.
Dave King found the trick to do it in max 8 actually here you are : http://boards.polycount.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=117131&an=0&page=4#Post117131
there was a thread about this not too long ago, i found the problem on the wacom forums http://boards.polycount.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=231068&an=0&page=1#Post231068
Well it did set the axis to 0 but it moves the model as well,I wanna set my model stay where it is and clear the transform to 0,is that possible? why max have to makes things complicated :'(
Flickr is pretty good for travel photos. Also check out PicLens for a nice searching experience. http://boards.polycount.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=1&Number=264611&page=0&fpart=1
Looks promising. You could try my SDK if you like. http://boards.polycount.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=264839&an=0&page=1#Post264839 If not there are tons of others floating around here.
Haha Uly, beat me by 5 minutes. http://boards.polycount.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=254817&page=0&vc=#Post254817 Link to Duke in high-res glory: http://mikecyb.shackspace.com/DNF_Teaser_Shot.jpg