Illustrator MCP Server (Windows)

Welcome to the Illustrator MCP Server! 🎨🚀

This project allows Claude to directly create vector graphics inside Adobe Illustrator using natural language prompts.
It works by sending TypeScript commands to Illustrator via a local server.

Imagine simply describing what you want — like "draw a small coffee shop during rain" — and Illustrator brings it to life!

This version works on Windows by communicating with Illustrator’s scripting engine directly.

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✨ Features

• Control Adobe Illustrator programmatically using AI prompts
• Send TypeScript (.tsx) scripts directly to Illustrator
• Open-source and lightweight
• Designed to work with Claude Desktop (but can work with any agent that speaks MCP)

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💻 Installation

1. Install Python 3.11+

   Make sure you have Python installed.
   Download Python here.

2. Clone this repository

   git clone https://github.com/krVatsal/illustrator-mcp.git
   cd illustrator-mcp

3. Create a virtual environment (recommended)

   python -m venv venv
   .\venv\Scripts\activate

4. Install dependencies

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   or
   uv sync

5. Start the MCP Server

   python illustrator/server.py

Run With One Script (Windows + Git Bash)

You can run setup + startup using:

bash run_server.sh

What this script does:

• Creates .venv if it does not exist
• Bootstraps pip in .venv if missing
• Installs dependencies only when needed
• Skips reinstall when requirements are already satisfied
• Re-checks environment health before skipping install (pip check + key imports)
• Starts the MCP server
• Handles Windows/POSIX path conversion when launched from Git Bash or WSL-style shells

How to stop the server:

• Press Ctrl+C in the terminal where the server is running

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🛠️ Setting up Claude Desktop

To allow Claude Desktop to communicate with the MCP server:

1. Open the configuration file:

   %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
   

2. Add the MCP server configuration:

    "mcpServers": {
        "illustrator": {
            "command": "C:\\Users\\<YourUser>\\Projects\\illustrator-mcp\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe",
            "args": [
                "C:\\Users\\<YourUser>\\Projects\\illustrator-mcp\\illustrator\\server.py"
            ]
        }
    }
   

   Use absolute paths and replace <YourUser> with your Windows username. If your config already has JSON content, merge this under the top-level object.

3. Restart Claude Desktop after saving the config.

4. Do not start python illustrator/server.py manually when using Claude Desktop MCP. Claude Desktop starts and stops the server process automatically from this config. Run the server manually only for local debugging. NOTE: Same method can be used with Cursor also, if Claude desktop fails(Might be bug in claude desktop with versions) then try on Cursor

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🎯 Enhanced Prompt System

This MCP server now includes an advanced prompt system to help you create better content! Use these new tools:

• get_prompt_suggestions - Get categorized prompt examples for different types of content
• get_system_prompt - Get the optimal system prompt for AI guidance
• get_prompting_tips - Get tips for creating more effective prompts
• get_advanced_template - Get structured templates for complex design tasks
• help - Display comprehensive help and guidance

📚 Prompt Categories Available:

• 🎨 Basic Shapes & Geometry
• 📝 Typography & Text
• 🏢 Logos & Branding
• 🌆 Illustrations & Scenes
• 🎭 Icons & UI Elements
• 🎨 Artistic & Creative
• 📊 Charts & Infographics
• 🏷️ Print & Layout

💡 Quick Start with Prompts

Try asking: "Get me prompt suggestions for logos" or "Show me prompting tips"

For detailed examples and templates, see PROMPT_EXAMPLES.md

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📋 Sample Prompts I Tried

Here are some prompts I used along with the results it generated:

• Prompt 1:
  Design a clean, minimal vector art of a small coffee shop during rain, featuring a simple storefront, puddles on the street, and gentle grey clouds in the sky.

• Prompt 2:
  Create a watercolor-style illustration of the Mumbai skyline at sunset.

• Prompt 3:
  Create a modern, minimalistic logo for a tech startup called 'NeuraTech'.

(See attached images for the results!)

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🧐 Notes

• You need Adobe Illustrator installed on your system.
• Make sure Illustrator scripting is enabled.
• This server sends TypeScript (.tsx) to Illustrator — Illustrator handles the execution.
• Claude Desktop currently does not allow setting system prompts, so you might need to guide it a little during use.

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📢 Contributing

Pull requests are welcome!
Feel free to open issues for feature requests, bugs, or suggestions.

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Happy creating! 🌈💛