1. An occupant classifier training method for use in vehicle restraining systems comprising the steps of: at least one processor performing the steps of: producing an image model in a vehicle coordinate domain; transforming the image model to simulate at least one desired property associated with a vehicle occupant, wherein transforming the image model comprises applying a transformation matrix, comprising a plurality of randomly selected coefficients, to the image model, the plurality of coefficients being selected according to associated probability density functions; mapping the transformed image model to a camera coordinate domain associated with the run-time operation of the classifier; merging data associated with the transformed image model with a desired background image to create a training image; and training a pattern recognition classifier using the training image.