# Photoshop MCP Server

This MCP server lets an agent operate Adobe Photoshop through a client, including documents, layers, selections, adjustments, and exports.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 28
- Author: zachshallbetter
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/zachshallbetter/adobe-mcp/tree/HEAD/packages/photoshop
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/photoshop-mcp-server

## What it does

Photoshop MCP Server runs beside Adobe Photoshop and connects to it through Photoshop’s ExtendScript interface. An MCP client can use it to inspect and change documents, resize images or canvases, work with layers and selections, apply edits and filters, handle type, and save output.

Its tool set includes `list_documents`, `create_layer`, `select_area`, `adjust_layers`, `apply_filter`, and `save_document`. The setup requires Photoshop 2023 or newer plus Node.js 18 or newer, on macOS or Windows.

File access is limited to the home directory and paths listed in `PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS`, so a file outside those locations will block the operation. On macOS, the first request also needs permission to automate Photoshop in System Settings.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME`, `PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS`, `PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME=<PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME> --env PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS=<PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> --transport stdio photoshop -- npx -y adobe-mcp-photoshop
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add photoshop --env PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME=<PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME> --env PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS=<PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> -- npx -y adobe-mcp-photoshop
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "photoshop": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "adobe-mcp-photoshop"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME": "<PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME>",
                "PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS": "<PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS>",
                "PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS": "<PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "photoshop": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "adobe-mcp-photoshop"
            ],
            "env": {
                "PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME": "<PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME>",
                "PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS": "<PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS>",
                "PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS": "<PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME=<PHOTOSHOP_APP_NAME> -e PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS=<PHOTOSHOP_ALLOWED_DIRS> -e PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<PHOTOSHOP_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> photoshop npx -y adobe-mcp-photoshop
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- open and save Photoshop documents
- build and rearrange layer groups
- select image regions and edit pixels
- export images in supported formats

## Example prompts
- List the open Photoshop documents with `list_documents`, then create a new document.
- Create a layer with `create_layer`, change its properties, and place it in a group.
- Select an area, apply an adjustment, and save the document with `save_document`.

## Similar
- [photoshop-automator](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/photoshop-automator.md) — skill · 477 installs
- [photoshop-mcp](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/photoshop-mcp.md) — MCP server · ★ 742
- [Photoshop](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/photoshop.md) — skill · 2100 installs
- [editmamei-photoshop-mcp](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/editmamei-photoshop-mcp.md) — MCP server · ★ 15
- [Adobe](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/adobe.md) — skill · 1900 installs
- [direct](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/direct.md) — skill · 488 installs

From the same set: [zachshallbetter/adobe-mcp](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/zachshallbetter/adobe-mcp.md) — 6 cards

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