To convert rotation mode for bones in Blender, especially within an animation, you typically use an add-on designed for this specific task. Here's how it generally works:
- Select Bones: In Pose mode, select the specific bone(s) whose rotation mode you want to change.
- Access Conversion Tool: This usually involves using a Blender add-on. One example is an add-on that adds a panel within the sidebar (e.g., in the Item tab or a custom tab).
- Choose Rotation Mode: Within the add-on's panel, you'll find options to select the desired rotation mode (e.g., XYZ Euler, YXZ Euler, Quaternion).
- Convert!: Click the "Convert!" or similar button provided by the add-on. The add-on will then automatically iterate through the keyframes in your timeline. For each selected bone, it will convert its rotation data to the newly specified rotation mode.
- Customize (if possible): Some add-ons offer customization options regarding the location of their panel within the Blender interface.
Why is this necessary?
Blender offers different rotation modes (Euler angles, Quaternions, etc.). Euler angles can suffer from gimbal lock, leading to undesirable rotations, whereas Quaternions provide smoother interpolation but are sometimes harder to visualize. Converting between these modes can be essential to fix animation problems or achieve specific effects.
In summary: Converting rotation modes in Blender for animated bones usually requires a specialized add-on. The add-on automates the process of iterating through keyframes and updating the rotation data for the selected bones.
