Codesign vs Illustrator MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Codesign and Illustrator MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Codesign for architecture & design work as a local process; choose Illustrator MCP Server for architecture & design as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Codesign when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Choose Illustrator MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_NORMAL, ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_HEAVY. - You want tools like
get_document_info, get_artboards, get_layers.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 49/100 · Fair | 69/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_NORMALILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_HEAVY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 42 | 177 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 66 |
| Full listing | View Codesign | View Illustrator MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Codesign tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Illustrator MCP Server tools 66
get_document_infoGet document metadataget_artboardsGet all artboard informationget_layersGet layer structure as a treeget_selectionGet detailed information about the currently selected objects. While editing text (text cursor or selected characters), the containing text frame is returned with a textSelection field (selected contents, length, start; insertionPoint: true for a bare cursor).list_text_framesList text frames with summary-level information (including orientation and threaded-frame links nextFrameUUID/previousFrameUUID). Supports reading-order sort, pagination, and a lightweight contents-only mode. layer_name includes text inside groups and sublayers of that layer.get_text_frame_detailGet detailed text frame attributes including per-character runs (font, tracking, akiLeft/akiRight, tsume, proportionalMetrics), kerning pairs with manual kerning values (1/1000 em), paragraph attributes (leading, autoLeading, paragraph style), orientation (horizontal/vertical) and threaded-frame links (nextFrameUUID/previousFrameUUID). Returns cssHints for web/CSS reproduction.get_colorsGet all color information used in the document. usedFillColors / usedStrokeColors list each distinct color once with a count of how many paths and text ranges use it (most used first).get_path_itemsGet path and shape data, including paths inside groups and compound paths (clipping: true marks a clipping-mask path). Note: fill/stroke do not include per-attribute opacity; use the item-level opacity field for transparency.get_guidelinesGet guide informationget_groupsGet structure of groups, clipping masks, and compound paths. Children of a clipping-mask group mark the mask path with clipping: true. When depth cuts the tree off, the item has childrenTruncated: true and childCount (children is empty only because of the depth limit).get_effectsGet effect and appearance informationget_imagesGet embedded and linked image information: file path, broken-link status (linkBroken: file missing on disk), pixel size, and effective resolution (ppi at the placed size; rotation-safe).- +54 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Codesign
{
"mcpServers": {
"codesign": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@imgly/codesign-mcp@0.5.1"
]
}
}
}
Illustrator MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"illustrator-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"illustrator-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_NORMAL": "YOUR_ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_NORMAL_HERE",
"ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_HEAVY": "YOUR_ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_HEAVY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Codesign is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Illustrator MCP Server belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Codesign for architecture & design work and Illustrator MCP Server for architecture & design.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Codesign is listed as free. Illustrator MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add codesign and illustrator-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Codesign has a quality signal of 49/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 42 GitHub stars. Illustrator MCP Server has 69/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 177 GitHub stars.