keyshot-mcp

Control an open KeyShot Studio 2026 window from Claude Code with the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Status: prototype. The tools work and have tests, but the project depends on the scripting API of KeyShot, which can change. Tell us what you use and what fails: open an issue or a discussion.

The demo plays 3 times faster than real time.

Claude Code ⇄ MCP server keyshotmcp (Python 3.12, stdio)
            ⇄ TCP 127.0.0.1:1998, 4-byte length + JSON, token
            ⇄ MCP start.py (in KeyShot, timer on the UI thread)

The bridge runs inside KeyShot. The server runs in Claude Code. They speak only on the local computer.

Requirements

Install

From PyPI

From version 1.1.0, keyshot-mcp is a Python package. With uv:

uvx keyshot-mcp install-addin
claude mcp add keyshot -- uvx keyshot-mcp

install-addin copies the two bridge scripts into %PUBLIC%\Documents\KeyShot Studio\Scripts (or the folder of --dir). Then restart KeyShot.

As a Claude Code plugin

From version 1.1.0, this repository is also a Claude Code marketplace. The plugin keyshot starts the server with uvx, so uv must be installed.

/plugin marketplace add lfoletti/keyshot-mcp
/plugin install keyshot@keyshot-mcp

Then run /keyshot-install-addin once, and restart KeyShot.

From the release zip or the repository

Each release has keyshot-mcp-<version>-windows.zip, with libs/ already filled. Unzip it, then go to step 3. Without the zip, start at step 1.

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/lfoletti/keyshot-mcp.git
   

2. Install mcp in the libs folder. run.py loads it from there.

   py -3.12 -m pip install --target libs mcp==1.28.1
   

3. Copy addin\Scripts\MCP start.py and MCP stop.py to C:\Users\Public\Documents\KeyShot Studio\Scripts\.
4. Restart KeyShot. KeyShot reads the Scripts folder only when it starts.
5. Add the server to Claude Code:

   claude mcp add keyshot -- py -3.12 -I -S C:\path\to\keyshot-mcp\run.py
   

6. Make sure the imports are correct:

   py -3.12 -I -S run.py --check
   

   The output shows keyshot : imports ok and 33 tools.

Use

1. In KeyShot, open Window > Scripting Console > Scripts.
2. Select MCP start, then click Run. The console shows Pont KeyShot actif sur 127.0.0.1:1998.
3. In Claude Code, type /mcp. Make sure that keyshot is connected.
4. Ask Claude, for example:
   • "Show me the scene and list the materials."
   • "Apply brushed aluminium to the cap, then make a 1920 × 1080 render."

To stop the bridge, run the script MCP stop, or close KeyShot. To update the bridge, copy the new file, then use the tool reload_bridge.

Tools

Two MCP prompts give Claude the method:

Colors: [r, g, b] is linear (0-1). #RRGGBB is sRGB: the bridge changes it to linear.

Settings

Optional file: %LOCALAPPDATA%\keyshot-mcp\pont-config.json.

{"execute_python": false, "dossier_sorties": "C:\\path\\to\\outputs"}

The bridge writes pont-actif.json (port, token, KeyShot PID) and pont.log in the same folder.

Safety

• The bridge listens only on 127.0.0.1. Each request must have the token from pont-actif.json.
• execute_python is off. Only a local setting can enable it.
• The tools edit a material graph only on copies that the bridge made.
• set_camera does not discard a camera view that is not saved.
• save_scene keeps a copy of the old .bip file.

Tests

The tests use a fake lux module. KeyShot is not necessary.

cd tests
py -3.13 test_pont.py
py -3.13 test_serveur_mcp.py

test_pont.py has 85 tests for the bridge. test_serveur_mcp.py has 9 end-to-end tests. The essai_*.py files need an open KeyShot.

test_serveur_mcp.py starts the server with the Python that runs the test. If the packages in libs are for a different Python version, set KEYSHOT_MCP_PYTHON to the applicable python.exe.

Contribute

Read CONTRIBUTING.md and CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md.

Status

keyshot-mcp is a working prototype. It is tested with KeyShot Studio 2026.2 Pro on Windows.

• The bridge uses the KeyShot scripting API (lux). A new KeyShot version can change this API.
• KeyShot can add its own integration with Claude in a future version. This project can then stop.
• Feedback has priority over new features. Use the issue templates Bug and Feedback.

Disclaimer

keyshot-mcp is an independent project. It is not affiliated with Luxion or KeyShot, and so far Luxion does not endorse or sponsor it. KeyShot is a trademark of Luxion.

License

MIT