KeyShot

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

Item	Version
KeyShot Studio	15.1 (2026) or later. Tested with 2026.2 Pro (15.1.2.7).
Python	3.12 or later, Windows
mcp	1.30.0
Claude Code	any recent version

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==1.30.0
   

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

Group	Tools
Scene	keyshot_status, get_scene_info, get_scene_tree, list_objects, set_visibility, screenshot, save_scene
Cameras and environment	list_cameras, set_camera, fit_camera, list_environments, set_environment, set_realtime
Materials	list_materials, get_material, list_library_materials, assign_material, set_material_parameter, rename_material, undo_material_changes, commit_material_changes, save_material_to_library
Material graph	add_material_node, connect_material_nodes, disconnect_material_input, remove_material_node
Render	render_image, render_status, wait_for_render, view_image
Bridge	lux_functions, reload_bridge, execute_python (off by default)

Two MCP prompts give Claude the method:

Prompt	Use
keyshot_strategy	How to work in KeyShot without damage to the scene.
keyshot_materiaux	How to make materials from a CMF sheet (color, material, finish) or a description: physical values, colors, node recipes.

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"}

Setting	Effect
execute_python	true enables the tool execute_python. The default is false.
dossier_sorties	Folder for screenshots, renders and scene backups.
dossiers_textures	List of more folders where the bridge can read texture images. KeyShot's texture library and dossier_sorties are always allowed.
KEYSHOT_MCP_PORT	Environment variable. Bridge port. The default is 1998.
KEYSHOT_MCP_TIMEOUT	Environment variable. Server timeout in seconds. The default is 60.
KEYSHOT_MCP_EXECUTE_PYTHON	Environment variable. 1 enables execute_python.

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
py -3.13 test_cli.py
py -3.13 test_publication.py
py -3.13 test_plugin.py
py -3.13 test_dev_version.py

test_pont.py has 87 tests for the bridge. test_serveur_mcp.py has 9 end-to-end tests. test_cli.py tests the command keyshot-mcp. test_publication.py and test_plugin.py check the PyPI, MCP registry and plugin files, and that this README follows the code. test_dev_version.py tests the TestPyPI version tool. 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