diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/api/schemas/color_strip_sources.py b/server/src/ledgrab/api/schemas/color_strip_sources.py
index fb312a6..774f1f6 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/api/schemas/color_strip_sources.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/api/schemas/color_strip_sources.py
@@ -655,10 +655,22 @@ class ColorStripSourceListResponse(BaseModel):
 
 
 class SegmentPayload(BaseModel):
-    """A single segment for segment-based LED color updates."""
+    """A single segment for segment-based LED color updates.
 
-    start: int = Field(ge=0, description="Starting LED index")
-    length: int = Field(ge=1, description="Number of LEDs in segment")
+    ``start`` and ``length`` are optional: when omitted, the segment defaults
+    to ``start=0`` and ``length=led_count - start`` (i.e. the rest of the
+    strip from ``start``). Sending a single segment with only ``mode`` and
+    ``color`` therefore fills the entire strip.
+    """
+
+    start: Optional[int] = Field(
+        None, ge=0, description="Starting LED index (default 0 = beginning of strip)"
+    )
+    length: Optional[int] = Field(
+        None,
+        ge=1,
+        description="Number of LEDs in segment (default = led_count - start)",
+    )
     mode: Literal["solid", "per_pixel", "gradient"] = Field(description="Fill mode")
     color: Optional[List[int]] = Field(None, description="RGB for solid mode [R,G,B]")
     colors: Optional[List[List[int]]] = Field(
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/core/processing/api_input_stream.py b/server/src/ledgrab/core/processing/api_input_stream.py
index b707c23..56014ec 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/core/processing/api_input_stream.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/core/processing/api_input_stream.py
@@ -148,23 +148,37 @@ class ApiInputColorStripStream(ColorStripStream):
         """Apply segment-based color updates to the buffer.
 
         Each segment defines a range and fill mode. Segments are applied in
-        order (last wins on overlap). The buffer is auto-grown if needed.
+        order (last wins on overlap).
+
+        ``start`` and ``length`` are optional: ``start`` defaults to 0,
+        ``length`` defaults to ``led_count - start`` (i.e. the remainder of
+        the strip). The buffer is only auto-grown for segments that supply
+        an explicit ``length`` extending past the current end — implicit
+        "to the end" segments adapt to whatever the current strip size is.
 
         Args:
             segments: list of dicts with keys:
-                start  (int)  – starting LED index
-                length (int)  – number of LEDs in segment
-                mode   (str)  – "solid" | "per_pixel" | "gradient"
-                color  (list) – [R,G,B] for solid mode
-                colors (list) – [[R,G,B], ...] for per_pixel/gradient
+                start  (int, optional) – starting LED index (default 0)
+                length (int, optional) – number of LEDs in segment
+                                         (default = led_count - start)
+                mode   (str)           – "solid" | "per_pixel" | "gradient"
+                color  (list)          – [R,G,B] for solid mode
+                colors (list)          – [[R,G,B], ...] for per_pixel/gradient
         """
-        # Compute required buffer size from all segments
-        max_index = max(seg["start"] + seg["length"] for seg in segments)
+        # Compute required buffer size from segments that supply an explicit
+        # length. Segments without a length take the strip as-is and so do
+        # not trigger growth.
+        explicit_max = 0
+        for seg in segments:
+            seg_start = seg.get("start") or 0
+            seg_len = seg.get("length")
+            if seg_len is not None:
+                explicit_max = max(explicit_max, seg_start + seg_len)
 
         with self._lock:
-            # Auto-grow buffer if needed
-            if max_index > self._led_count:
-                self._ensure_capacity(max_index)
+            # Auto-grow buffer if any explicit segment extends past current end
+            if explicit_max > self._led_count:
+                self._ensure_capacity(explicit_max)
 
             # Start from current buffer (or fallback if timed out)
             if self._timed_out:
@@ -173,8 +187,12 @@ class ApiInputColorStripStream(ColorStripStream):
                 buf = self._colors.copy()
 
             for seg in segments:
-                start = seg["start"]
-                length = seg["length"]
+                seg_start = seg.get("start")
+                start = 0 if seg_start is None else seg_start
+                seg_len = seg.get("length")
+                length = max(0, self._led_count - start) if seg_len is None else seg_len
+                if length <= 0:
+                    continue
                 mode = seg["mode"]
                 end = start + length