Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@mcp-print Convert Pantone 485 C to CMYK"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
Professional print & color workflow tools for AI assistants
2400+ Pantone colors • CMYK/RGB conversion • Ink & cost estimation • ICC profiles • Spot color separation • Barcode coverage • Delta E • Paper weights • Preflight checks • Substrate simulation • Imposition • Booklet & spine calculation • Lab conversion • CIEDE2000 • TAC/GCR • Dot gain compensation • PDF preflight • Job quoting
Works 100% offline — no API keys needed
Install • Configure • Tools • Examples • Contributing
Backed by optiraj.com — SaaS for print professionals
Role | Use case |
Print designers | Check Pantone-to-CMYK conversions without leaving your editor |
Prepress engineers | Estimate ink costs, verify color accuracy (Delta E), analyze ICC profiles, run preflight checks |
Packaging teams | Convert paper weights, separate spot vs process colors, cost entire print runs, simulate substrate shifts |
Brand managers | Find the closest Pantone match to any HEX color |
Related MCP server: MCP Color Converter
pip install mcp-printRequires Python 3.10+. Zero external dependencies beyond the MCP SDK.
Add to your Claude Code MCP config (~/.claude/settings.json or project .mcp.json):
{
"mcpServers": {
"print": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["-m", "mcp_print"]
}
}
}Restart Claude Code — all twenty tools will be available immediately.
Tool | Description |
| Convert a Pantone name to CMYK + HEX. Fuzzy matching — |
| Find the closest Pantone colors to any HEX or CMYK value (top N matches by Delta E) |
| Convert CMYK values (0-100) to RGB (0-255) + HEX |
| Convert RGB (0-255) or HEX to CMYK values (0-100) |
| Calculate Delta E (CIEDE2000 or CIE76) between two CMYK colors with quality interpretation |
| Convert between CIELAB (spectrophotometer readings), CMYK, RGB, and HEX |
| Given a list of design colors, recommend which should be spot vs process |
Tool | Description |
| Estimate ink grams/kg and cost for a print run (offset, flexo, gravure, screen, digital) |
| Full job cost breakdown: ink + plates + makeready + run cost |
| Ink coverage % for Code 128, EAN-13, QR, and Data Matrix barcodes |
| Pre-press file validation — checks color mode, resolution, bleed, fonts, ink coverage, and transparency |
| Simulate CMYK color shifts on different paper substrates (dot gain, absorption, tint) |
| N-up imposition — how many pieces fit on a press sheet, sheets needed, utilization % |
| Signature count, page rounding, and spine thickness for saddle-stitch or perfect-bound booklets |
| File CMYK values that hit target tints on press — inverse of substrate simulation |
| Total ink coverage (TAC) check with automatic GCR reduction |
| Imposition + sheet-based costing in one call, with local prices in any currency |
| Preflight a real PDF file: trim/bleed boxes, font embedding, image color spaces ( |
Tool | Description |
| Parse ICC/ICM profile metadata (color space, device class, version, PCS) from any |
| Convert between GSM, lb text, and lb cover |
Once configured, just ask Claude naturally:
"What's the CMYK breakdown for Pantone 485 C?"
Fuzzy matching accepts any format: "485C", "pantone 485", "485 coated", "Warm Red"
{ "name": "Pantone 485 C", "c": 0, "m": 95, "y": 100, "k": 0, "hex": "#FF0D0D" }"What Pantone colors are closest to #DA291C?"
{
"matches": [
{ "name": "Pantone 485 C", "c": 0, "m": 95, "y": 100, "k": 0, "hex": "#FF0D0D" },
{ "name": "Pantone 485 M", "c": 1, "m": 93, "y": 99, "k": 2, "hex": "#FA0E03" }
],
"search_type": "hex #DA291C"
}"Convert CMYK 100/44/0/0 to RGB"
{ "r": 0, "g": 143, "b": 255, "hex": "#008FFF" }"How much ink for 10,000 A4 flyers at 35% coverage on offset?"
{ "ink_grams": 327.44, "ink_kg": 0.3274, "cost_estimate_usd": 8.19 }"Cost estimate: 5,000 A4 flyers, 4-color offset, 120gsm, double-sided"
{
"total_cost": 628.14,
"cost_per_unit": 0.1256,
"currency": "USD",
"breakdown": {
"ink": 11.34,
"plates": 280.00,
"makeready": 200.00,
"run_cost": 136.80,
"paper": 0.0
}
}Prices default to USD industry averages — pass your own ink/plate/makeready/run/paper prices in any currency for a localized quote.
"Compare brand blue (100/72/0/18) vs proof (98/70/2/20) — is the Delta E acceptable?"
{ "delta_e": 3.41, "interpretation": "fair — noticeable difference" }Delta E | Quality |
< 1 | Excellent — imperceptible |
1 - 3 | Good — barely perceptible |
3 - 6 | Fair — noticeable |
> 6 | Poor — obvious difference |
"Should these colors be spot or process?"
{
"spot_colors": [
{ "nearest_pantone": "Pantone 485 C", "delta_e": 0.0, "reason": "Close match — use spot for accuracy" }
],
"process_colors": [
{ "nearest_pantone": "Pantone 375 C", "delta_e": 8.2, "reason": "No close match — reproduce as CMYK" }
]
}"What color space does this ICC profile use?"
{
"profile_name": "ISOcoated_v2",
"color_space": "CMYK",
"device_class": "Output (Printer)",
"version": "2.4.0",
"pcs": "XYZ"
}"Ink coverage for an EAN-13 barcode at 37mm x 26mm?"
{
"coverage_percent": 52.0,
"recommended_ink": "Process Black (K: 100)",
"print_method_suggestion": "offset — good resolution for medium modules"
}"What's 80 lb text in GSM?"
{ "value": 118.42, "from_unit": "lb_text", "to_unit": "gsm" }"Validate my file for offset printing: CMYK, 300 DPI, 3mm bleed, fonts embedded"
{
"status": "pass",
"checks": [
{ "name": "color_mode", "status": "pass", "message": "CMYK is correct for offset." },
{ "name": "resolution", "status": "pass", "message": "300 DPI meets the minimum of 300 DPI for offset." },
{ "name": "bleed", "status": "pass", "message": "3.0 mm bleed meets the 3.0 mm minimum for offset." },
{ "name": "fonts", "status": "pass", "message": "All fonts are embedded." },
{ "name": "ink_coverage", "status": "pass", "message": "Total ink coverage 280% is within safe limits." },
{ "name": "transparency", "status": "pass", "message": "No transparency detected." }
],
"summary": "6 passed, 0 warnings, 0 failed out of 6 checks.",
"recommendation": "File is ready for production."
}Checks color mode, resolution, bleed, font embedding, total ink coverage, and transparency against the target print method (offset, digital, flexo, gravure, screen).
Check | Fail | Warning |
Color mode | RGB/spot for offset/flexo/gravure/screen | RGB for digital |
Resolution | Below 75% of method minimum | Below method minimum |
Bleed | No bleed | Below method minimum |
Fonts | Not embedded | — |
Ink coverage | > 340% | > 300% |
Transparency | — | Present (needs flattening) |
"How will CMYK 50/30/20/10 look on newsprint vs glossy coated?"
{
"original": { "c": 50, "m": 30, "y": 20, "k": 10, "hex": "#73A1B8" },
"simulated": { "c": 57.5, "m": 38.3, "y": 29.8, "k": 31.9, "hex": "#4A6B7A" },
"substrate": "newsprint",
"print_method": "offset",
"adjustments": { "dot_gain_applied": 30, "absorption_k_added": 16.2 },
"delta_e_from_original": 21.11,
"warning": "Severe color shift — this substrate may not be suitable for color-critical work."
}Six substrate profiles with different dot gain, absorption, and paper tint characteristics:
Substrate | Dot gain (offset) | Tint | Typical use |
| 12% | None | Magazines, brochures |
| 18% | Slight warm | Art books, reports |
| 22% | Warm | Letterheads, books |
| 30% | Yellow/gray | Newspapers, flyers |
| 25% | Strong brown | Packaging, bags |
| 25% | Slight gray | Eco-friendly prints |
"How many A4 flyers fit on a 70x100 sheet, and how many sheets for 10,000?"
{
"ups_per_sheet": 9,
"layout": "3 x 3",
"orientation": "normal",
"sheets_needed": 1112,
"sheets_with_waste": 1168,
"sheet_utilization_percent": 84.1
}Accounts for bleed, cutting gaps, and the gripper margin; tries both piece orientations and picks the best.
"48-page booklet on 90gsm uncoated with a 300gsm cover — signatures and spine?"
{
"total_pages": 48,
"signatures": 3,
"total_sheets": 12,
"spine_thickness_mm": 3.24,
"binding": "saddle_stitch",
"binding_note": "Suitable for saddle stitching."
}Rounds pages to a multiple of 4, warns when the page count doesn't suit the chosen binding (saddle stitch > 64 pages, perfect bound < 3 mm spine).
The built-in database contains 2,415 Pantone colors:
Series | Range | Description |
Numeric | 100–699 | Yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens, grays, browns |
7000 series | 7400–7547 | Extended gamut colors |
Named | — | Black, White, Warm Red, Reflex Blue, Process Blue, Cool/Warm Grays 1–11, Hexachrome series |
Every color is available in three finishes: Coated (C), Uncoated (U), and Matte (M).
Fuzzy matching handles format variations — "485C", "pantone 485", "485 coated" all resolve correctly.
git clone https://github.com/kcgdz/mcp-print.git
cd mcp-print
pip install -e .
pip install pytest
pytest tests/ -v173 passed in 0.61sDevelopment is supported by Optiraj — a SaaS platform for print professionals. Optiraj sponsors open-source tooling that makes professional print knowledge freely accessible to the community.
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