How to Increase Bendy Bone Segments in Blender

Bendy Bones (B-Bones) in Blender allow artists to create smooth, curved bone deformations without adding complex chains of individual bones. Increasing the segment count of a Bendy Bone divides the single bone into multiple sub-segments, which allows it to curve smoothly along its length. This guide explains how to quickly adjust the segment count of any bone in your armature to achieve fluid, organic character rigging.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Bendy Bone Segments

1. Enable B-Bone Display Mode

To visually see the segments you are adding, set your armature display to show Bendy Bones:

  1. Select your armature in Object Mode or Pose Mode.
  2. Go to the Data Properties tab (the green armature icon) in the Properties panel on the right.
  3. Expand the Viewport Display section.
  4. Change the Display As dropdown from Octahedral (or your current setting) to B-Bone.

2. Select the Bone

  1. Switch to Pose Mode or Edit Mode by pressing Tab or using the mode dropdown in the top-left corner of the viewport.
  2. Click on the specific bone you want to turn into a Bendy Bone.

3. Adjust the Segments Value

  1. Open the Bone Properties tab (the bone icon) in the Properties panel.
  2. Scroll down and expand the Bendy Bones panel.
  3. Locate the Segments setting (set to 1 by default).
  4. Click and drag or type a higher number into the Segments field (e.g., 5 to 10 for standard curves).

As soon as you increase the value, the bone in the viewport will split into multiple sub-segments, allowing it to bend smoothly when rotated or controlled by handle bones.

Adjusting Handles for Better Control

Once segments are added, control how the bone curves by adjusting the handle settings in the same Bendy Bones panel:

  • In / Out Handles: Change the dropdown from Automatic to Absolute or Relative and assign neighboring bones as targets to explicitly drive the curve of the start (In) and end (Out) of the bone.
  • Ease In / Ease Out: Adjust these values to alter the strength of the curve at the start and end points of the bone.
  • Scale / Roll / Offset: Fine-tune the thickness, twist, and position of the segments along the curve.