Illustrator
sfkislev/flue
Control Adobe Illustrator from the shell via Flue ExtendScript bridges.
What is Illustrator?
This skill lets a coding agent operate Adobe Illustrator on the desktop through Flue, a local shell-to-application bridge. The agent pipes ExtendScript into illustrator_bridge.py and receives structured JSON results, enabling inspection and bounded edits to documents, artboards, layers, paths, and selections.
- Inspect open Illustrator documents, artboards, layers, and paths
- Query and modify selection state
- Execute small ExtendScript steps with JSON results
- Bridge shell commands to Illustrator without an MCP server
- Support bounded edits and document inspection
How to install Illustrator
npx skills add null --skill illustrator- Adobe Illustrator installed on the desktop
- Flue installed (pip install flue && flue setup)
- Read FLUE.md and adapters/illustrator_adapter/APP.md for operational contract
How to use Illustrator
- 1.Read FLUE.md in the skill directory to understand how Flue works and the bridge contract
- 2.If Flue is installed, read C:\Users\fredd\.claude\skills\flue\SKILL.md and adapters/illustrator_adapter/APP.md
- 3.Pipe ExtendScript commands to illustrator_bridge.py via stdin
- 4.Parse the structured JSON response returned from the bridge
- 5.Use small, inspectable steps; avoid destructive actions unless explicitly requested
Use cases
- Automate repetitive Illustrator tasks from the command line
- Inspect document structure and layer hierarchy programmatically
- Make targeted edits to paths, text, or object properties
- Query artboard dimensions and object positions
- Integrate Illustrator workflows into shell scripts and agent pipelines
- Coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor)
- Designers automating Illustrator workflows
- DevOps/automation engineers integrating design tools
- Teams building CLI-driven design pipelines
Illustrator FAQ
Flue is a local shell-to-application bridge that connects CLI agents to desktop software like Illustrator via ExtendScript. It pipes commands through stdin/stdout and returns structured JSON results.
No. Flue operates as a direct stdin/stdout bridge without requiring an MCP server, making it lightweight and reviewable.
Flue supports Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, InDesign, and Audition. One Flue install covers all adapters.
Yes. Flue is MIT-licensed and reviewable on GitHub and PyPI. It treats the human as the driver and supports small, inspectable steps to avoid unintended destructive actions.
Tell the human that Flue must be installed first. The install command is 'pip install flue && flue setup'. Do not install without explicit approval in the current session.
Full instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from sfkislev/flue.
name: Illustrator description: Control Adobe Illustrator from the shell via Flue - ExtendScript bridges without an MCP server.
This skill lets a coding agent operate Adobe Illustrator on the desktop through Flue, a local shell-to-application bridge. The agent pipes ExtendScript into illustrator_bridge.py and gets structured JSON back.
agent shell ->
illustrator_bridge.py-> ExtendScript -> JSON result
When to use
The human requests work performed inside Illustrator — inspect the open document, artboards, layers, paths, selection; make bounded edits; run small ExtendScript steps. A CLI agent cannot act inside Illustrator without a bridge like Flue.
How to proceed
- Read
FLUE.mdin this directory first. It explains how Flue works, the bridge contract, a worked ExtendScript example, and safety expectations. - If Flue is installed: also read
C:\Users\fredd\.claude\skills\flue\SKILL.mdandadapters/illustrator_adapter/APP.mdfor the operational contract, then work from there. - If Flue is not installed: tell the human. The install command is
pip install flue && flue setup. Do not install without explicit approval in the current session.
Other apps
Flue also supports Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, InDesign, Audition, Blender, Houdini, 3ds Max, Unity, and Microsoft Office through the same stdin/stdout contract. One install covers all adapters.
Safety
Flue acts inside professional desktop software. Treat the human as the driver; prefer small, inspectable steps; avoid destructive actions unless explicitly requested. Flue is MIT-licensed and reviewable on GitHub / PyPI before use.
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