This chapter is for users who can already describe requirements in natural language. Its goal is to connect an agent so it can operate Photoshop directly. Once connected, ask it to inspect images, organize layers, change text, adjust the image and export files, then request further changes based on the result. The main skills are connection and use.
" }, { "id": "course-image-photoshop-agent-section-1", "title": "Choose a connection method", "url": "https://ai-knowledge-map.com/en/software/image-creation/image-photoshop-agent/#course-image-photoshop-agent-section-1", "html": "There are two routes: Photoshop's built-in assistant or an external agent:
\n| Project | Control method | Capabilities described by the project |
|---|---|---|
| drmedia/photoshop-mcp | Photoshop UXP plugin bridge | Documents, layers, selections, screenshots, saving and exporting |
| airtaxi/PhotoshopMcpServer | Windows COM automation | Exposes Photoshop automation to MCP agents, including document and layer information, exports and Photoshop script execution |
The following instructions are for Windows. Choose one external route; both are third-party projects with their own version requirements and operation limits.
" }, { "id": "course-image-photoshop-agent-section-2", "title": "Route A: drmedia/photoshop-mcp (UXP plugin)", "url": "https://ai-knowledge-map.com/en/software/image-creation/image-photoshop-agent/#course-image-photoshop-agent-section-2", "html": "1. Prepare the environment
\nYou need Git, Node.js 22.12 or later, Photoshop and Adobe UXP Developer Tool. The project declares Photoshop 25.0 as its minimum; the author records testing with 27.8. Complete macOS validation is still missing, so this section uses Windows. Project requirements
\nInstall UXP Developer Tool through Creative Cloud. On first launch, follow the instructions to enable Developer Mode and allow loading development plugins. Adobe installation guide
\n2. Download and build the project
\nThis example installs to C:/AI/Tools. Run the following in PowerShell:
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path C:/AI/Tools -Force\nSet-Location C:/AI/Tools\ngit clone https://github.com/drmedia/photoshop-mcp.git\nSet-Location C:/AI/Tools/photoshop-mcp\nnpm install\nnpm run buildThe build generates the files needed by the server and plugin. At verification time, the project had not been published to npm; install from source. Build instructions, release status
\n3. Load the plugin in Photoshop
\nC:/AI/Tools/photoshop-mcp/photoshop-uxp/manifest.json.Keep Photoshop and the plugin panel open while configuring the AI client. Plugin loading instructions
\n4. Add the MCP server to the agent client
\nThe client must support starting a local stdio MCP server. For example, in Claude Desktop, open %APPDATA%\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json and add the server entry below. If other servers already exist, merge this entry into the existing mcpServers object.
{\n "mcpServers": {\n "photoshop-uxp": {\n "command": "node",\n "args": [\n "C:/AI/Tools/photoshop-mcp/packages/mcp-server/bin/photoshop-mcp.js"\n ],\n "env": {\n "PHOTOSHOP_MCP_BRIDGE": "uxp",\n "PHOTOSHOP_MCP_PROFILE": "full",\n "PHOTOSHOP_MCP_ALLOW": "read,edit,external",\n "PHOTOSHOP_MCP_EXTENSIONS_ENABLED": "none"\n }\n }\n }\n}Replace the installation path with your actual path, save and restart the client. The client starts the configured server; do not run another npm start instance manually.
These settings select the real UXP bridge, expose the full Photoshop tool set, allow reading and editing plus Save As / export operations, and disable extensions not needed here. The default permission is read,edit; this example adds external for saving and exporting. Overwriting original files belongs to a different permission level and is not included. Project launch configuration, environment variables and permissions, Claude Desktop configuration location
For other agents, use the same command, arguments and environment variables in that client's configuration format. For example, in VS Code, run MCP: Add Server → Command (stdio) from the command palette. Clients may use mcpServers or servers as their top-level field; do not interchange them. Official VS Code connection guide
5. Connect the plugin and choose an output folder
\nReturn to the Photoshop MCP panel and click Connect. Loading the plugin does not connect it automatically, so this is a separate step. Once connected, the panel shows bridge status and the port. It searches local ports 8765–8774 by default; you usually do not need to enter a port. Connection behavior
\nFor saving or exporting, select and authorize an output folder in the panel yourself. The agent then supplies a filename such as poster-v1.psd, which is written there. This project does not accept arbitrary full output paths chosen by the agent. Output folder and saving rules
This route controls Photoshop through Windows COM without the UXP plugin above. It requires Windows, Photoshop with COM automation and DoJavaScript support, and .NET 10 SDK or later. See the project documentation for installation and client configuration.
1. Download and publish the executable
\nRun in PowerShell:
\nNew-Item -ItemType Directory -Path C:/AI/Tools -Force\nSet-Location C:/AI/Tools\ngit clone https://github.com/airtaxi/PhotoshopMcpServer.git\nSet-Location C:/AI/Tools/PhotoshopMcpServer\ndotnet publish PhotoshopMcpServer/PhotoshopMcpServer.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-containedPublishing builds the project. With its current directory structure and target framework, the executable is at the location used below. Publish steps, target framework
\n2. Configure the client and connect
\nAgain using Claude Desktop, add this server entry to its configuration:
\n{\n "mcpServers": {\n "photoshop-com": {\n "command": "C:/AI/Tools/PhotoshopMcpServer/PhotoshopMcpServer/bin/Release/net10.0-windows/win-x64/publish/PhotoshopMcpServer.exe"\n }\n }\n}Use your actual path, save, restart the client and open Photoshop. Other agents can use the same executable as the command for a local stdio server. Executable connection example
\nThe project provides tools for reading documents, querying layers and exporting; it also lets the agent write and execute Photoshop JavaScript. Describe everyday tasks directly; you do not need to write scripts first. Tool list
" }, { "id": "course-image-photoshop-agent-section-4", "title": "Verify the connection", "url": "https://ai-knowledge-map.com/en/software/image-creation/image-photoshop-agent/#course-image-photoshop-agent-section-4", "html": "Open a test image in Photoshop, enable the relevant MCP tools in the agent client and enter:
\n\nActually call the Photoshop tools to read the current document's name, width, height and layer names. Query only; do not make changes yet.
Compare the returned information with the open document and confirm that the client shows actual tool calls. The UXP route has document and layer query tools; the COM route can use GetActiveDocumentInfo and GetLayerInfo. A server configuration or a chat message saying “connected” is not sufficient evidence. UXP tool reference, COM tool reference
Then verify a small edit:
\n\nCreate a blank layer at the top of the current document named “Connection test.” Query the layers again and report its name and position.
Finally, test Save As and export, and confirm the files actually appear in the selected folder. With the UXP route, enter:
\n\nSave the current document as connect-test-v1.psd, preserving layers, and export connect-test-v1.png. Use the folder I selected in the Photoshop MCP panel and report the result for each file.
These three steps verify reading, editing and file output separately. Once complete, proceed to everyday conversation-based operation.
" }, { "id": "course-image-photoshop-agent-section-5", "title": "Give tasks after connecting", "url": "https://ai-knowledge-map.com/en/software/image-creation/image-photoshop-agent/#course-image-photoshop-agent-section-5", "html": "If you can already write prompts, describe the object, requested changes, content to preserve and deliverables. For example:
\n\nChange the text layer named “Title” in the current poster to “Autumn arrivals,” preserving the font, size and position. Save the result as poster-v1.psd and export poster-v1.png.
After seeing the result, continue with “split the title into two lines,” “make the whole image brighter” or “adjust only the background.” When objects are unclear, ask the agent to query the layers first. With UXP, you can also request a screenshot and use it to guide changes.
\nAvailable operations depend on the selected tools. Reading and adjusting layers or placing an existing background are different from calling Generative Fill. Check the tool list and test whether a new background or a particular AI feature is actually supported.
" }, { "id": "course-image-photoshop-agent-section-6", "title": "Common connection problems", "url": "https://ai-knowledge-map.com/en/software/image-creation/image-photoshop-agent/#course-image-photoshop-agent-section-6", "html": "| Symptom | Check first |
|---|---|
| Client cannot start the server; tool list is empty | Installation directory, build output and configuration format; for UXP, ensure the client can find Node and restart it after installing the runtime |
UXP returns PHOTOSHOP_NOT_CONNECTED | Photoshop is open, the plugin is loaded and Connect was clicked; confirm the client starts the real uxp bridge |
| Reading and editing work, but saving or exporting fails | For UXP, check external permission and the panel's output folder; choose a new filename if one already exists |
| COM server starts, but Photoshop operations fail | Call IsPhotoshopRunning and GetPhotoshopVersion; check the installed version supports the required COM interface |
| A feature has no tool or a call fails | Ask the agent to inspect the actual tool list and error; for UXP, use photoshop.diagnostics and follow its findings |
Resources and configurations were checked on October 31, 2026, against Adobe and client documentation and the two projects' source documentation. This section has not been installed and acceptance-tested in local Photoshop.
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