What is Indesign Mcp Server

indesign-mcp-server is a comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed for Adobe InDesign automation, featuring over 35 professional tools that facilitate complex publishing workflows and document creation.

Use cases

Use cases include automating the creation of marketing materials, managing large-scale publishing projects, generating reports with dynamic data, and streamlining workflows for graphic designers and publishers.

How to use

To use indesign-mcp-server, clone the repository from GitHub, install the necessary dependencies using npm, and configure your MCP client to connect to the server. Ensure you have Adobe InDesign 2025 or a compatible version installed.

Key features

Key features include advanced document management, sophisticated text and typography controls, graphics and layout capabilities, table creation and data integration, as well as professional export options and automation scripting.

Where to use

indesign-mcp-server is primarily used in publishing, graphic design, and any field that requires automated document creation and layout management, particularly where Adobe InDesign is utilized.

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 LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

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

📞 Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions

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Made with ❤️ for the publishing community

Transform your InDesign workflows with AI automation