1 What is gimbal lock?

Gimbal lock is a phenomenon that occurs when two of the three axes of rotation of a 3D object align, resulting in a loss of one degree of freedom. This means that you can no longer rotate the object around the third axis independently, and the object gets stuck in a fixed orientation. Gimbal lock can happen when you use Euler angles to represent rotations, which are based on three values for pitch, yaw, and roll. For example, if you rotate an object by 90 degrees around the X axis, then the Y and Z axes will be parallel, and you will not be able to rotate the object around the Y axis anymore.

2 How to prevent gimbal lock?

One way to prevent gimbal lock is to use a different representation of rotations, such as quaternions or matrices. These are mathematical structures that can encode rotations without relying on three angles, and thus avoid the alignment of axes. Most 3D modeling software and game engines support quaternions or matrices as an alternative to Euler angles, and you can switch between them in the settings or the code. However, quaternions and matrices are not very intuitive or easy to manipulate, so you might still prefer to use Euler angles for some tasks.

3 How to fix gimbal lock?

If you are already using Euler angles and encounter gimbal lock, you can try to fix it by changing the order of rotation axes. For example, instead of using XYZ order, you can use ZYX order, which means that you rotate the object around the Z axis first, then the Y axis, then the X axis. This can avoid some cases of gimbal lock, but not all of them. Another option is to use a parent-child hierarchy, where you attach the object to another object that acts as a pivot or a controller, and rotate the parent object instead of the child object. This can help you separate the rotations of different axes and avoid the alignment of the child object's axes.

4 What are flipping and interpolation errors?

Flipping and interpolation errors are other common rotation issues that can affect your animation. Flipping is when the object suddenly rotates by 180 degrees or more between two keyframes, creating a jarring and unnatural motion. Interpolation errors are when the object rotates along the wrong or the longest path between two keyframes, creating a slow and distorted motion. These errors can happen when you use Euler angles to animate rotations, because Euler angles are not continuous or consistent, and they can have multiple values for the same orientation.

5 How to avoid flipping and interpolation errors?

One way to avoid flipping and interpolation errors is to use quaternions or matrices instead of Euler angles, as they are continuous and consistent, and they have only one value for each orientation. Another way is to use a technique called gimbal baking, which involves creating extra keyframes between the original keyframes, and adjusting the Euler angles manually to avoid sudden or wrong changes. You can use a tool or a script to automate this process, or do it by hand if you have a simple animation. However, gimbal baking can increase the size and complexity of your animation, and it might not work for all situations.

6 How to improve your animation skills?

The best way to improve your animation skills is to practice and experiment with different methods and techniques. You can also learn from other animators, watch tutorials, read books, and join online communities. Animation is a creative and challenging art form, and there is always something new to learn and discover. By understanding the basics of rotations and how to avoid or fix common issues, you can create more realistic and smooth animations in 3D.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?