indesign-mcp-server

lucdesign/indesign-mcp-server

3.3

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A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Adobe InDesign automation with 35+ professional tools.

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_frame - Advanced text frame creation
  • edit_text_frame - Modify existing frames
  • find_replace_text - Search and replace with GREP

Graphics Management (3 tools)

  • place_image - Image placement with fit options
  • create_rectangle - Rectangle creation with styling
  • create_ellipse - Ellipse creation with styling

Style Management (4 tools)

  • create_paragraph_style - Paragraph style creation
  • create_character_style - Character style creation
  • apply_paragraph_style - Apply styles to text
  • list_styles - List all available styles

Color Management (3 tools)

  • create_color_swatch - Create CMYK/RGB/Spot colors
  • list_color_swatches - List available colors
  • apply_color - Apply colors to objects

Table Management (2 tools)

  • create_table - Table creation with headers/footers
  • populate_table - Fill tables with data

Layer Management (3 tools)

  • create_layer - Create new layers
  • set_active_layer - Switch active layer
  • list_layers - List all layers

Export & Production (4 tools)

  • export_pdf - Professional PDF export
  • export_images - Multi-format image export
  • export_epub - Digital publishing export
  • package_document - Print production packaging

Automation & Utilities (4 tools)

  • execute_indesign_code - Custom ExtendScript execution
  • preflight_document - Quality checking
  • view_document - Document visualization
  • data_merge - Automated data integration

💡 Use Cases

Automated Publishing

  • Generate newsletters, brochures, and reports from data
  • Batch process multiple documents
  • Consistent styling across document series

Data-Driven Documents

  • Mail merge for personalized materials
  • Catalog generation from databases
  • Financial reports with dynamic content

Professional Workflows

  • Template-based document creation
  • Brand compliance automation
  • Print production preparation

Educational Materials

  • Automated textbook layout
  • Exercise sheet generation
  • Multi-language document variants

🔧 Advanced Configuration

Custom ExtendScript Integration

execute_indesign_code({
  code: `
    // Custom InDesign scripting
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    // Your custom automation logic here
  `
})

Batch Processing Example

// Process multiple files
const files = ["doc1.indd", "doc2.indd", "doc3.indd"];
for (const file of files) {
  await open_document({ filePath: file });
  await export_pdf({ 
    filePath: file.replace('.indd', '.pdf'),
    preset: 'HighQualityPrint' 
  });
  await close_document({ save: false });
}

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Adobe InDesign not found"

  • Ensure InDesign 2025 is installed and running
  • Check AppleScript permissions in System Preferences

"Script execution failed"

  • Verify Adobe InDesign is the active application
  • Check for document-specific errors in console

"Tool not found"

  • Restart MCP client after configuration changes
  • Verify server is running with node index.js

Debug Mode

node --inspect index.js

🤝 Contributing

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
  3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
  4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
  5. Open a Pull Request

📝 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • Anthropic for the Model Context Protocol
  • Adobe for InDesign ExtendScript API
  • MCP Community for tools and inspiration

📞 Support

Made with ❤️ for the publishing community

Transform your InDesign workflows with AI automation