# Illustrator MCP Server

Controls Adobe Illustrator from MCP assistants to generate vector graphics, edit typography, manage swatches and export artboards. Useful for automated design workflows.

- 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/illustrator
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/zachshallbetter-illustrator-mcp-server

## What it does

The server interfaces with Adobe Illustrator via ExtendScript, bridging the assistant directly to document trees, artboards, layers, and vector geometry. Available tools handle primitive shape generation, pathfinder operations, gradient styling, and detailed font attributes. Canvas coordinates use standard points. They measure downward from the top-left corner of the active artboard, avoiding manual origin conversion.

Setup requires an installed Adobe Illustrator 2023 or newer on macOS or Windows, alongside Node.js 18+. On macOS, the operating system asks to grant automation rights under Privacy & Security during the initial request. Without this permission, scripts fail. File read and write access remains restricted to user home directories unless additional paths are defined in `ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS`.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME`, `ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS`, `ILLUSTRATOR_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 ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME=<ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME> --env ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS=<ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> --transport stdio illustrator -- npx -y adobe-mcp-illustrator
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add illustrator --env ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME=<ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME> --env ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS=<ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS> --env ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> -- npx -y adobe-mcp-illustrator
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME=<ILLUSTRATOR_APP_NAME> -e ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS=<ILLUSTRATOR_ALLOWED_DIRS> -e ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS=<ILLUSTRATOR_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT_MS> illustrator npx -y adobe-mcp-illustrator
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- generate vector shapes and grids using point measurements
- batch-format typography and replace missing typefaces
- create swatches across CMYK, RGB, or spot color profiles
- organize layers, path groupings, and artboard layouts

## Example prompts
- Create an Illustrator document in CMYK mode and draw a centered blue rectangle.
- Find all text frames on artboard 0 and set their font size to 16 pt.
- Save each artboard from the current file into an individual EPS file.

## Similar
- [Illustrator](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/illustrator.md) — skill · 2100 installs
- [adobe-illustrator-scripting](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/adobe-illustrator-scripting.md) — skill · 268 installs
- [after-effects](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/after-effects.md) — skill · 2800 installs
- [Adobe](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/adobe.md) — skill · 1900 installs
- [photoshop-automator](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/photoshop-automator.md) — skill · 477 installs
- [efecto-graphic-design](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/efecto-graphic-design.md) — skill · 795 installs

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

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