Illustrator MCP Server vs MCP Cinema4d
A side-by-side look at the Illustrator MCP Server and MCP Cinema4d MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Illustrator MCP Server for architecture & design work as a local process; choose MCP Cinema4d 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 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.
Choose MCP Cinema4d when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
ping, render, preview_render.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 68/100 · Great | 65/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | ILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_NORMALILLUSTRATOR_MCP_TIMEOUT_HEAVY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 168 | 26 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 66 | 67 |
| Full listing | View Illustrator MCP Server | View MCP Cinema4d |
Tools & capabilities
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
MCP Cinema4d tools 67
pingCheck connectivity to the Cinema 4D bridge plugin.renderRender the active Cinema 4D document at its currently-active render data settings. To change resolution / renderer / frame range / etc., adjust the active RenderData first via `create_render_data` (with `update_if_exists:true` on the active RD) or `set_params`. The request times out after 180 seconds; heavier renders that exceed that keep running in C4D but the call returns a timeout.preview_renderQuick agent-friendly verification render. Uses the Viewport renderer with the active editor view temporarily switched to Constant Shading (Lines) — sketch-style and fast. Independent of the active RenderData (built freestanding, never inserted) and restores BaseDraw / camera / time / take in finally. Returns a base64 PNG inline so the agent can directly view it. Use `view: top|bottom|left|right|front|back` for an auto-framed temp camera, or `camera` to render through a named scene camera. Pass `save_path` to also write the PNG to disk.reset_sceneClear scene state in one RPC. With `prefix` (e.g. 'e2e_') removes only objects / materials / non-active render data / non-main takes whose name starts with the prefix, then flushes the undo buffer — cheap cleanup for test suites. Without prefix, swaps the active document for a fresh empty BaseDocument (everything goes). Much faster than chained remove_entity calls when cleanup involves animated objects.call_commandInvoke a Cinema 4D command by plugin id via c4d.CallCommand(). Works for built-in commands (render, save, make editable, ...) and any registered command plugin.list_pluginsGeneralized plugin enumerator. Pass plugin_type (e.g. "material", "shader", "video_post", "command") or a raw int to FilterPluginList. Each entry includes "plugin" (parent folder of the binary, e.g. "OctaneRender 1.7.1") and "plugin_file" (binary basename) for host-plugin attribution. Filter results by name_pattern and/or plugin_pattern regex.undoPop up to `steps` entries off the active document's undo stack via doc.DoUndo. Stops early if the stack empties. Returns `steps_performed` so callers can tell when fewer steps were available than requested. Default: 1 step.batchRun many generic ops in one RPC. Each op is applied in order; by default failures are recorded per op and the batch continues. The whole batch is wrapped in a single undo group. Useful for 'apply X to all matching entities' workflows (pair with list_entities + name_pattern to get handles).list_entitiesEnumerate scene entities of a given kind. Returns compact summaries (name, type_id, type_name, plus kind-specific fields — `is_active` for take / material / render_data). For kind=object also supports type_ids / tag_types / max_depth filters and include_tags / include_params to read data inline — so you can find 'all cubes with a Ttexture tag and their position in one call' without falling back to exec_python. Use this first to find what exists before `describe`/`set_params`. **Note:** kind=shader walks classical shader chains; for node-material graphs use `list_graph_nodes`.describeDump all description parameters (id, name, cycle enum, current value) of a C4D entity resolved by handle. Use this to discover parameter IDs before reading/writing.get_paramsRead parameter values on a C4D entity by id or DescID path. Each id may be: an int (top-level), a list [a, b, …] (chained DescID; dtypes inferred from the description), or contain 'x'/'y'/'z' for vector sub-components (e.g. [903, 'x'] = position.x). For explicit dtypes use [[id, 'real|long|bool|vector'], …]. Returns `{values: [{path, value}]}` in request order. Discover ids via `describe`.set_paramsAtomically write parameter values (wrapped in one undo). Each entry is `{path, value}` where `path` is either an int id or a DescID path (e.g. [903, 'x'] = position.x). Lists of 3 numbers auto-coerce into c4d.Vector for vector-typed destinations. Returns `{applied: [{path, value}], errors: [{path, error}]}`.- +55 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.
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"
}
}
}
}
MCP Cinema4d
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-cinema4d": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@kumoproductions/mcp-cinema4d"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Illustrator MCP Server is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Cinema4d belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Illustrator MCP Server for architecture & design work and MCP Cinema4d 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.
Illustrator MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MCP Cinema4d 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 illustrator-mcp-server and mcp-cinema4d as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Illustrator MCP Server has a quality signal of 68/100 (Great) with 2 views, 0 installs and 168 GitHub stars. MCP Cinema4d has 65/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 26 GitHub stars.