Separating Models in a Duplicate Object

[Anonymous]

Hello. I started using Maya about a week ago so please forgive my lack of technical terms, but I duplicated an object and would now like to separate the different things in combined into it. I made a soda can, duplicated it, and would now like to separate the tex and can from each other. I'm really trying to change the color of the can without changing the text color also or the other duplicated item, and this unmerging process is the only idea I have. Someone please help me.

[damaggio]

no pictures.

[Anonymous]

It's the can right there. I duplicated it from the rest and want to make it red, but when i change the can color, the rest change with it. I could also assign a new material, but that would also color the stripes and writing on the can. What I'm trying to do is separate the writing and stripes from the can and change the color, without it changing those as well. Sorry for forgetting the pictures before.