title: 3D Modeling - Morphing
body: <p>The overall goal I'm trying to accomplish is to implement a customizable avatar system where one can change height, weight, body type, etc.  How is this done?  As a simple example, when you change the height of an avatar you don't want the head/eyes/fingers/etc to get stretched out, you only want the torso and legs to change size and have everything else remain as they were (perhaps repositioned).  Another example would be adding a "beer belly".  What are existing techniques for that sort of morphing?</p>
  
  <p>Is each morphed piece a separate mesh?</p>
  
  <p>If so, how are the two manipulated pieces "stuck" back together in a believable way (they changed size).</p>
  
  <p>If not, how do you confine your manipulations to one section of the mesh and not the others?</p>
  
  <p>I'm looking for general techniques as well as specific solutions.  This is a generic 3D graphics problem but I'm working with Kit3D/Silverlight/C#.  This is similar to another question I posted but this is much more general.</p>