InDesign MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server for layout automation
Wires Adobe InDesign into your agent so it can build pages, apply styles and export PDFs from the chat.
claude mcp add --env INDESIGN_APP_NAME=<INDESIGN_APP_NAME> --env INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS=<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env INDESIGN_BACKEND=<INDESIGN_BACKEND> --transport stdio indesign -- npx -y adobe-mcp-indesignWhat InDesign MCP Server does
The server exposes InDesign as callable tools: documents, pages, text frames, tables, paragraph and character styles, swatches, layers, master spreads, PDF, EPUB and image export, plus multi-document books. There are 137 tools across seven areas, mapped to the panels and dialogs of InDesign.
On macOS it talks to InDesign through AppleScript (osascript); the app version is detected on its own or forced with INDESIGN_APP_NAME. Windows goes through COM automation in PowerShell. An optional UXP backend is available with INDESIGN_BACKEND=uxp|auto, using a local bridge and the plugin under uxp/. A help tool returns the parameters of any tool or category.
Run it where InDesign itself is installed — otherwise the server has nothing to attach to. Node.js 18+ and macOS or Windows are required. macOS will ask you to allow automation for your terminal or Node on first launch, and AppleScript stays silent until you grant it. File operations are limited to allowed directories; add more with INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS (separator : on macOS, ; on Windows).
What it helps with
- create a document at a set size with a title already placed
- apply brand paragraph and character styles to copy
- export a finished layout to PDF without touching dialogs
- build a book from several documents and sync it
- produce an EPUB or PNG straight from the layout
Example prompts for the agent
- Create an A4 document and add a centered title
- Make a paragraph style
Headingat 24 pt with center alignment - Show me the parameters for the
create_text_frametool
How to install InDesign MCP Server
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env INDESIGN_APP_NAME=<INDESIGN_APP_NAME> --env INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS=<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env INDESIGN_BACKEND=<INDESIGN_BACKEND> --transport stdio indesign -- npx -y adobe-mcp-indesignReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add indesign --env INDESIGN_APP_NAME=<INDESIGN_APP_NAME> --env INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS=<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env INDESIGN_BACKEND=<INDESIGN_BACKEND> -- npx -y adobe-mcp-indesignReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"indesign": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"adobe-mcp-indesign"
],
"env": {
"INDESIGN_APP_NAME": "<INDESIGN_APP_NAME>",
"INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS": "<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS>",
"INDESIGN_BACKEND": "<INDESIGN_BACKEND>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"indesign": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"adobe-mcp-indesign"
],
"env": {
"INDESIGN_APP_NAME": "<INDESIGN_APP_NAME>",
"INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS": "<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS>",
"INDESIGN_BACKEND": "<INDESIGN_BACKEND>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e INDESIGN_APP_NAME=<INDESIGN_APP_NAME> -e INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS=<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS> -e INDESIGN_BACKEND=<INDESIGN_BACKEND> indesign npx -y adobe-mcp-indesignReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about InDesign MCP Server
How do I install InDesign MCP Server in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add adobe-mcp-indesign -- npx -y adobe-mcp-indesign. For environment variables use the longer form: `claude mcp add --env INDESIGN_APP_NAME=<INDESIGN_APP_NAME> --env INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS=<INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env INDESIGN_BACKEND=<INDESIGN_BACKEND> --transport stdio indesign -- npx -y adobe-mcp-indesign`.
What does InDesign MCP Server do?
It lets an agent drive Adobe InDesign: documents, pages, text, tables, styles, layers, books and export to PDF, EPUB or images. The agent calls those tools from the chat instead of working the panels by hand.
What do I need before running it?
Adobe InDesign and Node.js 18+ on macOS or Windows. On macOS you must allow automation for your terminal or Node; on Windows the server reaches InDesign through COM.
