InDesign MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Adobe InDesign automation with 35+ professional tools. This server enables AI assistants like Claude to directly control Adobe InDesign, automating complex publishing workflows, document creation, and professional layout tasks.

🚀 Features

📄 Document Management

• Create, open, save, and close documents with advanced options
• Support for all standard formats (A4, A5, Letter, Legal, Custom)
• Facing pages, bleeds, slugs, and margin configuration
• Multi-page document handling

✍️ Text & Typography

• Advanced text frame creation and editing
• Character and paragraph style management
• Find/replace with GREP support
• Professional typography controls (leading, tracking, optical margin alignment)

🎨 Graphics & Layout

• Image placement with multiple fit options
• Shape creation (rectangles, ellipses with styling)
• Layer management and organization
• Color swatch creation and management (CMYK, RGB, Spot colors)

📊 Tables & Data

• Table creation and data population
• Support for headers and footers
• CSV data integration capabilities

📤 Export & Production

• Professional PDF export with presets
• Multi-format image export (PNG, JPEG, TIFF)
• EPUB export for digital publishing
• Package for print production
• Preflight checking

🔧 Automation & Scripting

• Data merge operations
• Custom ExtendScript execution
• Batch processing capabilities
• Professional publishing workflows

📋 Prerequisites

• Adobe InDesign 2025 (or compatible version)
• macOS (required for AppleScript integration)
• Node.js 18+
• MCP-compatible client (like Claude Desktop)

🛠️ Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/lucdesign/indesign-mcp-server.git
cd indesign-mcp-server

2. Install Dependencies

npm install

3. Configure MCP Client

Add the server to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop):

claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "indesign": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/indesign-mcp-server/index.js"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

4. Start Adobe InDesign

Ensure Adobe InDesign is running before using the MCP server.

🎯 Quick Start

Create a Professional Document

// Create an A4 document with facing pages
create_document({
  preset: "A4",
  orientation: "Portrait", 
  pages: 4,
  facingPages: true,
  marginTop: 20,
  marginBottom: 20,
  marginLeft: 20,
  marginRight: 20
})

Add Formatted Text

// Create a text frame with professional typography
create_text_frame({
  content: "Professional Publishing with InDesign MCP",
  x: 20,
  y: 20,
  width: 170,
  height: 50,
  fontSize: 18,
  fontFamily: "Helvetica Neue",
  fontStyle: "Bold",
  alignment: "LEFT_ALIGN"
})

Create and Apply Styles

// Create a character style
create_character_style({
  name: "Emphasis",
  fontFamily: "Helvetica Neue",
  fontStyle: "Italic",
  textColor: "Red"
})

// Apply to specific text
find_replace_text({
  findText: "important",
  replaceText: "important",
  applyCharacterStyle: "Emphasis"
})

Export Professional PDF

export_pdf({
  filePath: "/path/to/output.pdf",
  preset: "HighQualityPrint",
  includeBleed: true,
  colorProfile: "ISO Coated v2"
})

🛠️ Available Tools

Document Management (5 tools)

• get_document_info - Document information and statistics
• create_document - Advanced document creation
• open_document - Open existing documents
• save_document - Save with optional new path
• close_document - Close with save options

Page Management (4 tools)

• add_page - Add pages with position control
• delete_page - Remove pages safely
• duplicate_page - Copy pages with content
• navigate_to_page - Page navigation

Text Management (3 tools)

• `create_text_f

... View full README on GitHub