In　this　paper　a　novel　and　intuitive　method　for　the　interactive　deformation　of　3D　meshes　is　proposed.　This　method　is　based　on　skeleton.　After　a　region　of　the　model　to　be　deformed　is　selected　and　several　reference　points　are　specified,　a　skeleton　is　created　implicitly　and　automatically　through　the　reference　points　and　the　screen.　Then　the　vertices　in　the　region　to　be　deformed　are　mapped　onto　the　skeleton.　Deformation　of　the　region　can　be　achieved　by　deforming　the　skeleton　to　the　desired　position　constrained　by　the　target　points,　which　are　specified　by　the　user.　To　uniformly　distributing　the　distortion　brought　by　the　deformation　and　preserving　the　details　of　the　deformed　region,　the　points　on　the　skeleton　are　represented　by　the　linear　rotation-invariant　coordinates.　The　deformed　skeleton　is　reconstructed　in　the　least-squares　sense.　At　last,　the　mesh　deformation　is　carried　out　by　reverse　mapping　from　points　on　the　skeleton　to　the　corresponding　vertices　in　the　region　to　be　deformed.　The　skeleton　are　also　can　be　used　to　twist　the　region　of　the　mesh.　We　demonstrate　the　effectiveness　and　interactivity　of　our　method　by　the　detail-preserving　editing　of　several　models　using　little　time.　©2007　IEEE.