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Photoshop MCP Server for Windsurf: Setup & Config

Photoshop MCP Server lets Windsurf control a locally installed Photoshop through photoshop-python-api.

What you can do with Photoshop in Windsurf

A Windows Photoshop bridge for assistant-driven document creation, layer work, and inspection.

  • Inspect the layers of an open PSD.
  • Build image compositions using layer and adjustment operations.

Before you start: Photoshop in Windsurf

  • Windows
  • Locally installed Adobe Photoshop
  • Python 3.10+
  • uv / uvx for the recommended configuration

The README reports testing Photoshop CC2017 through 2024. macOS and Linux are not supported. Set PS_VERSION to the local release you intend to control.

Photoshop Windsurf configuration

  1. Choose Windsurf configuration scope

    For Photoshop MCP Server, open macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json. Merge into mcpServers; remote endpoints use serverUrl.

  2. Add Photoshop MCP Server to Windsurf

    Use the photoshop-python-api-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep Photoshop MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Windsurf entries.

  3. Check Photoshop MCP Server in Windsurf

    Photoshop MCP Server: Refresh MCP in Windsurf settings and inspect Cascade’s tools.

Config file · macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "photoshop-python-api-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--python",
        "3.10",
        "photoshop-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PS_VERSION": "<Installed Photoshop version, such as 2024>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Photoshop tools available to Windsurf

Photoshop's stored tool list documents 2 tools; compare it with Windsurf's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

create_document

After refreshing Photoshop in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for create_document.

create_text_layer

After refreshing Photoshop in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for create_text_layer.

Add a text layer to a Photoshop document.

Photoshop: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Photoshop in Windsurf

  • Check uvx --python (from uv, for Python tools) on the machine running Windsurf's MCP integration for Photoshop MCP Server; refresh MCP and inspect Cascade's tools.
  • Check PS_VERSION for Photoshop MCP Server; do not bypass a Windsurf permission error with a broad administrator token.
  • Photoshop MCP Server uses stdio here: Windsurf must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
  • Known limitation: Runs only on Windows because of COM dependencies.
  • Known limitation: Requires Photoshop to be installed locally.
  • General Windsurf troubleshooting lives in the /clients/windsurf guide.

Photoshop MCP Server — details. Windsurf guide

Frequently asked questions

Windsurf reads Photoshop MCP Server under mcpServers in ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json on macOS/Linux; Windows uses %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json.

Windsurf's photoshop-python-api-mcp-server example uses stdio.

Photoshop MCP Server's Windsurf configuration invokes uvx --python (from uv, for Python tools).

Windsurf's Photoshop MCP Server example references PS_VERSION. Check these names if startup or authentication fails; the example alone does not distinguish required from optional values.

Photoshop MCP Server's stored list contains 2 tools, including create_document, create_text_layer. Compare those names with Windsurf's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.

Yes. The bridge connects to a local Adobe Photoshop installation.

The README lists application information, active-document information, and active-document layers.