A method and system provide the ability to modify a three-dimensional (3D) model. The 3D model is obtained and arbitrary faces of the model are selected. Shape modification operations to be performed are prescribed. A deformation lattice is constructed by setting up a lattice structure with control points. A space of the 3D model is mapped to a space of the lattice structure. The deformation lattice is evaluated by deforming the lattice using a selected set of control points. The evaluated deformed model is then output.