---

Who is this for?

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

Install

pip install mcp-print

Requires Python 3.10+. Zero external dependencies beyond the MCP SDK.

Configure with Claude Code

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.

Tools

Color & Pantone

Tool	Description
pantone_to_cmyk_tool	Convert a Pantone name to CMYK + HEX. Fuzzy matching — "485C", "pantone 485", "Warm Red" all work
pantone_search_tool	Find the closest Pantone colors to any HEX or CMYK value (top N matches by Delta E)
cmyk_to_rgb_tool	Convert CMYK values (0-100) to RGB (0-255) + HEX
rgb_to_cmyk_tool	Convert RGB (0-255) or HEX to CMYK values (0-100)
color_delta_e_tool	Calculate Delta E (CIEDE2000 or CIE76) between two CMYK colors with quality interpretation
lab_convert_tool	Convert between CIELAB (spectrophotometer readings), CMYK, RGB, and HEX
spot_color_separator_tool	Given a list of design colors, recommend which should be spot vs process

Print Production

Tool	Description
ink_consumption_tool	Estimate ink grams/kg and cost for a print run (offset, flexo, gravure, screen, digital)
print_cost_estimator_tool	Full job cost breakdown: ink + plates + makeready + run cost
barcode_ink_coverage_tool	Ink coverage % for Code 128, EAN-13, QR, and Data Matrix barcodes
preflight_check_tool	Pre-press file validation — checks color mode, resolution, bleed, fonts, ink coverage, and transparency
substrate_simulator_tool	Simulate CMYK color shifts on different paper substrates (dot gain, absorption, tint)
imposition_calculator_tool	N-up imposition — how many pieces fit on a press sheet, sheets needed, utilization %
booklet_calculator_tool	Signature count, page rounding, and spine thickness for saddle-stitch or perfect-bound booklets
dot_gain_compensation_tool	File CMYK values that hit target tints on press — inverse of substrate simulation
ink_limit_check_tool	Total ink coverage (TAC) check with automatic GCR reduction
full_job_quote_tool	Imposition + sheet-based costing in one call, with local prices in any currency
pdf_preflight_tool	Preflight a real PDF file: trim/bleed boxes, font embedding, image color spaces (pip install mcp-print[pdf])

Utilities

Tool	Description
icc_profile_info_tool	Parse ICC/ICM profile metadata (color space, device class, version, PCS) from any .icc file
paper_weight_converter_tool	Convert between GSM, lb text, and lb cover

Usage Examples

Once configured, just ask Claude naturally:

---

Pantone Lookup

"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" }

---

Reverse Pantone Search

"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"
}

---

Color Conversion

"Convert CMYK 100/44/0/0 to RGB"

{ "r": 0, "g": 143, "b": 255, "hex": "#008FFF" }

---

Ink Estimation

"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 }

---

Full Print Job Costing

"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.

---

Color Matching QC

"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

---

Spot vs Process Recommendation

"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" }
  ]
}

---

ICC Profile Inspection

"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"
}

---

Barcode Ink Coverage

"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"
}

---

Paper Weight Conversion

"What's 80 lb text in GSM?"

{ "value": 118.42, "from_unit": "lb_text", "to_unit": "gsm" }

---

Preflight Check

"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)

---

Substrate Simulation

"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
glossy_coated	12%	None	Magazines, brochures
matte_coated	18%	Slight warm	Art books, reports
uncoated	22%	Warm	Letterheads, books
newsprint	30%	Yellow/gray	Newspapers, flyers
kraft	25%	Strong brown	Packaging, bags
recycled	25%	Slight gray	Eco-friendly prints

---

Imposition (N-up)

"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.

---

Booklet & Spine Calculation

"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).

---

Pantone Database

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.

Development

git clone https://github.com/kcgdz/mcp-print.git
cd mcp-print
pip install -e .
pip install pytest
pytest tests/ -v

173 passed in 0.61s

Acknowledgements

Development 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.

License

MIT