Photoshop Python API
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that interfaces with Adobe Photoshop's Python API. Enables LLMs to execute image editing operations, automate workflows, and manage Photoshop tasks through structured commands and context-aware interactions.
What is Photoshop Python API?
Photoshop Python API is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to model context protocol (mcp) server that interfaces with adobe photoshop's python api. enables llms to execute image editing operations, automate workflows, and manage photoshop tasks through structur...
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that interfaces with Adobe Photoshop's Python API. Enables LLMs to execute image editing operations, automate workflows, and manage Photoshop tasks through structured commands and context-aware interactions.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that interfaces with A
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx photoshop-python-apiConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Photoshop Python API
Photoshop Python API MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol server that interfaces with Adobe Photoshop's Python API to let LLMs execute image editing operations through structured commands. It supports document creation and management, layer manipulation (text, solid color, adjustment layers), effect application, file open and save operations, and session state queries via MCP resources at photoshop://info, photoshop://document/info, and photoshop://document/layers. Teams use it to automate Photoshop workflows — from batch generating branded assets to applying consistent image adjustments — without manually operating the Photoshop UI.
Prerequisites
- Windows operating system (relies on Windows COM interfaces; not supported on macOS or Linux)
- Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 through 2024 installed and running
- Python 3.10 (required by the photoshop-python-api library)
- uv or pip package manager installed
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, Windsurf, or Cline
Install the server package
Install the photoshop-mcp-server package (which implements the Photoshop Python API MCP server) using pip or uv.
pip install photoshop-mcp-server
# or with uv:
uv pip install photoshop-mcp-serverLaunch Adobe Photoshop
Start Photoshop before running the MCP server. The server communicates with Photoshop via the Windows COM interface, which requires an active Photoshop process.
Configure your Photoshop version
Set the PS_VERSION environment variable to match your installed Photoshop year so the server connects to the correct COM object.
set PS_VERSION=2024Add to your MCP client configuration
Edit your Claude Desktop config to register the Photoshop server, specifying Python 3.10 and the PS_VERSION environment variable.
{
"mcpServers": {
"photoshop-python-api": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["--python", "3.10", "photoshop-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"PS_VERSION": "2024"
}
}
}
}Test the connection via MCP resources
After restarting your MCP client, ask Claude to read the photoshop://info resource to confirm the server is connected to the running Photoshop instance.
Photoshop Python API Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for the Photoshop Python API MCP server using uvx and Python 3.10.
{
"mcpServers": {
"photoshop-python-api": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["--python", "3.10", "photoshop-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"PS_VERSION": "2024"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Commands to control Photoshop image editing through Claude using the Python API server.
- "Read photoshop://document/layers and list the name, type, and visibility of each layer in the open document."
- "Create a new Photoshop document 800x600 pixels, add a text layer with the content 'Draft' in red at the top-left, and save it as draft.psd."
- "Apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the current document and flatten the image."Troubleshooting Photoshop Python API
COM connection error on server startup
Confirm that Adobe Photoshop is already open and running. The COM interface requires an active Photoshop window. Also ensure PS_VERSION matches the year of your Photoshop installation exactly.
Python version conflict during installation
Use 'uvx --python 3.10 photoshop-mcp-server' to explicitly target Python 3.10. Avoid using Python 3.11 or higher as the photoshop-python-api dependency has strict version requirements.
MCP resources return empty or error responses
Ensure a document is open in Photoshop before querying photoshop://document/info or photoshop://document/layers. The server returns document-specific data only when an active document exists.
Frequently Asked Questions about Photoshop Python API
What is Photoshop Python API?
Photoshop Python API is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that model context protocol (mcp) server that interfaces with adobe photoshop's python api. enables llms to execute image editing operations, automate workflows, and manage photoshop tasks through structured commands and context-aware interactions. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Photoshop Python API?
Follow the installation instructions on the Photoshop Python API GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Photoshop Python API?
Photoshop Python API works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Photoshop Python API free to use?
Yes, Photoshop Python API is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Photoshop Python API in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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