Photoshop

This MCP server runs a FastAPI-based service that enables remote control of Adobe Photoshop across macOS and Windows. It exposes REST and WebSocket endpoints to manage Photoshop sessions, open files, and perform image processing tasks. On macOS, you can choose between AppleScript or UXP-backed control, and on Windows you can use PowerShell or the UXP backend; both backends support WebSocket communication for real-time messaging and plugin interactions. The server also supports a dedicated UXP plugin workflow for cross-platform control via WebSocket, thumbnail streaming, and an optional cluster mode for managing multiple Photoshop instances. Typical workflows include opening files, applying edits, generating thumbnails, and performing automated retouch via integrated AI pipelines.

To interact with the server, use the standard API endpoints (for example, /openFile, /generateThumbnail, /autoRetouch) and specify bridge_mode if you are using the UXP backend. When running in UXP mode, you can package and install a Photoshop plugin that communicates with the server over WebSocket, enabling live control and streaming. The server can also operate in cluster mode to dispatch jobs across multiple Photoshop instances with load balancing and fault tolerance.

Prerequisites:

• Python 3.11 or higher
• macOS or Windows 10/11
• Adobe Photoshop 2023 or newer

Installation (via pip):

pip install photoshop-mcp-server

Or install from source:

git clone https://github.com/StarBoze/photoshop-mcp-server.git
cd photoshop-mcp-server
pip install -e .

Notes:

• The server is launched via the cli entry point provided by photoshop-mcp-server (e.g., photoshop-mcp-server start).
• For development or custom deployments, you can review docs/installation.md for platform-specific setup instructions and environment configuration.

Tips and caveats:

• Ensure Photoshop is installed and licensed, and the appropriate bridge (AppleScript on macOS, PowerShell on Windows, or UXP) is enabled for the chosen backend.
• When using the UXP backend, you must package and install the UXP plugin and then start the server in bridge mode uxp.
• Use bridge_mode parameters in API requests to switch between backends (applescript, powershell, uxp).
• Cluster mode requires additional configuration: a dispatcher and multiple nodes. See README examples for dispatcher_config and node_config structures.
• For large image tasks, enable and tune the performance options (script caching, timeouts, and parallel processing) to balance speed and resource usage.
• If you encounter WebSocket connection issues, verify that the UXP plugin is connected and that the WebSocket URL (e.g., ws://localhost:5001/ws) is reachable.
• Environment variables and extra configuration are documented in the project docs; common ones include backend selection, host/port bindings, and health-check intervals.