Computer-readable media having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method of generating an avatar reflecting a player's current appearance, the method (500, 700) comprising: receiving (502, 702) data describing the player's current appearance, the data including: a visible spectrum image of the player, a depth image including both the player and a current background, and skeletal data for the player, the skeletal data indicating an outline of the player's skeleton; capturing (504, 704) a facial appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: identifying the player's face, identifying facial features of the player's face, and warping a portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face into a face texture map based on the identified facial features, wherein the face texture map is a UV space map of the portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face; capturing (506, 706) a hair appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: identifying an extent of the player's hair, matching the identified extent of the player's hair to a predetermined hairstyle template, and identifying a color of the player's hair; capturing a clothing appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: using the received depth image including both the player and the current background and the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining an outer clothing boundary using edge detection, using the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining at least one inner clothing boundary by distinguishing clothing from skin based on a determined color gradient, and identifying player clothing as the area bounded at least in part by the outer clothing boundary and the at least one inner clothing boundary; and wherein the generated 3D avatar has clothing resembling the identified player clothing; and generating a 3D avatar reflecting the captured facial appearance and hair appearance of the player such that the 3D avatar resembles the player by combining the face texture map, the hairstyle template that matches the identified extent of the player's hair, and the identified player hair color with predetermined avatar features. receiving (502, 702) data describing the player's current appearance, the data including: a visible spectrum image of the player, a depth image including both the player and a current background, and skeletal data for the player, the skeletal data indicating an outline of the player's skeleton; capturing (504, 704) a facial appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: identifying the player's face, identifying facial features of the player's face, and warping a portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face into a face texture map based on the identified facial features, wherein the face texture map is a UV space map of the portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face; identifying the player's face, identifying facial features of the player's face, and warping a portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face into a face texture map based on the identified facial features, wherein the face texture map is a UV space map of the portion of the received visible spectrum image that includes the player's face; capturing (506, 706) a hair appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: identifying an extent of the player's hair, matching the identified extent of the player's hair to a predetermined hairstyle template, and identifying a color of the player's hair; identifying an extent of the player's hair, matching the identified extent of the player's hair to a predetermined hairstyle template, and identifying a color of the player's hair; capturing a clothing appearance of the player based at least in part on the received data by: using the received depth image including both the player and the current background and the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining an outer clothing boundary using edge detection, using the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining at least one inner clothing boundary by distinguishing clothing from skin based on a determined color gradient, and identifying player clothing as the area bounded at least in part by the outer clothing boundary and the at least one inner clothing boundary; and wherein the generated 3D avatar has clothing resembling the identified player clothing; and using the received depth image including both the player and the current background and the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining an outer clothing boundary using edge detection, using the received visible spectrum image of the player, determining at least one inner clothing boundary by distinguishing clothing from skin based on a determined color gradient, and identifying player clothing as the area bounded at least in part by the outer clothing boundary and the at least one inner clothing boundary; and wherein the generated 3D avatar has clothing resembling the identified player clothing; and generating a 3D avatar reflecting the captured facial appearance and hair appearance of the player such that the 3D avatar resembles the player by combining the face texture map, the hairstyle template that matches the identified extent of the player's hair, and the identified player hair color with predetermined avatar features.