Content
# ArtClaw Bridge
**Bridge DCC tools (UE, Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Houdini, Substance Painter/Designer, ComfyUI) to AI Agents via MCP Protocol**
> 🎯 **The Missing Bridge Between AI Agents and Creative Software**
ArtClaw Bridge provides a unified AI bridging layer for Digital Content Creation (DCC) software. Through the [MCP (Model Context Protocol)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/), AI Agents can directly understand and operate the editor environment — enabling AI to truly integrate into game development, film & animation, and digital art workflows.
**Keywords:** `maya-mcp` `blender-mcp` `unreal-engine-mcp` `3dsmax-mcp` `houdini-mcp` `substance-mcp` `comfyui-mcp` `maya-skill` `blender-skill` `ue-skill` `ai-dcc` `ai-3d` `mcp-bridge` `ai-game-dev` `ai-vfx`
[中文文档](README_zh.md)
---
## 🎯 Why ArtClaw Bridge?
### The Problem We're Solving
**1. AI Agents Can't Directly Operate Creative Software**
Most AI agents (OpenClaw, Claude Code, Cursor, etc.) are general-purpose platforms. They excel at coding and text tasks, but they don't know how to:
- Select objects in Maya
- Create materials in Unreal Engine
- Generate textures in Substance Designer
- Run workflows in ComfyUI
**2. From Custom Tools to Tool-Creation Platform**
Traditionally, every DCC required custom scripts and tools built one-by-one. ArtClaw Bridge shifts this paradigm:
- **Before**: Each tool is hand-crafted code, requiring deep expertise in the DCC's API
- **After**: Artists describe what they need in natural language, AI generates the tool automatically
The bridge layer handles the DCC-specific complexity once. After that, tool creation becomes a conversation, not a coding task.
**3. Tool Management for the AI Era**
Traditional tool frameworks were designed for manual discovery and learning. ArtClaw's Tool Manager reimagines this:
- **AI-Native Discovery**: No more hunting through menus — just ask AI to find and run the right tool
- **Zero Learning Curve**: AI explains and executes tools on-demand, eliminating training time
- **Team Sharing**: Skills and tools are versioned, shared, and synced across the team
- **Personal + Team Workflows**: Individuals create tools for their needs; teams curate shared libraries
The result: tools are created, shared, discovered, and executed through AI — a framework built for how people actually work with AI.
### Our Solution
ArtClaw Bridge is a **unified bridging layer** that:
- ✅ Connects any MCP-compatible AI Agent to any supported DCC software
- ✅ Provides a standardized protocol (MCP) for AI-to-software communication
- ✅ Includes an AI-powered Tool Manager for natural language tool creation
- ✅ Works with existing Agent platforms — no need to build yet another Agent system
> 💡 **Think of it as the "USB-C for AI Agents and Creative Software"** — one bridge, infinite combinations.
---
## 🎬 Demo
> Real operation demos showing AI Agent executing tasks directly in the editor
**UE Connection to OpenClaw — AI Chat Panel in Editor**
**Blender Integration — AI Operating in Blender Editor**
**Cross-DCC Pipeline — AI-Driven Workflow**
**Substance Designer & Painter — AI Texture Generation Workflow**
**Tool Manager — Web Skill、Tool Manager**
⭐ *More demo videos coming soon!*
---
## ✨ Core Features
### 🔗 Unified MCP Protocol
All DCC software communicates with AI Agents through the standard MCP protocol. Each DCC exposes only one MCP tool (`run_ue_python` / `run_python`), and AI completes all operations by executing Python code — minimal yet powerful.
### 💬 In-Editor AI Chat Panel
Chat directly with AI in UE / Maya / Max / Blender / Houdini / SP / SD / ComfyUI editors without switching windows. Features:
- **Streaming Output** — AI responses display in real-time with Markdown rendering
- **Tool Call Visualization** — Collapsible cards showing tool name, parameters, and execution results
- **Attachment Support** — Drag and drop images or files for AI to analyze automatically
- **Context Length Display** — Real-time token usage percentage
- **Stop Button** — Interrupt AI execution anytime (sends `chat.abort` to terminate Agent)
### 🛠️ Skill Management System
Layered Skill hot-reloading system, shared across DCCs:
- **Four-Level Priority** — Official > Marketplace > User > Temporary, higher levels override lower ones
- **In-Editor Management Panel** — Unified UI for both UE + DCC, supports filter/search/enable/disable/pin
- **Full Lifecycle** — Install, uninstall, update, publish (version increment + git commit), one-click full sync
- **AI-Generated Skills** — Describe requirements in natural language, AI auto-generates executable Skills (manifest + code + docs)
- **Change Detection** — Auto-detects unpublished changes at runtime, intelligently distinguishes "update" vs "publish" direction
- **Pinned Skills Context Injection** — Pinned Skill docs automatically injected into AI's first message context
### 🌐 Multi-Agent Platform Support
Configuration-driven platform abstraction layer — new platforms automatically appear in UI when registered in config:
- **OpenClaw** — Primary platform, integrated via mcp-bridge plugin (Full mode: in-editor chat + MCP)
- **LobsterAI (Youdao)** — OpenClaw repackaged, Gateway port 18790 (Full mode)
- **Claude Code / Cursor / WorkBuddy** — MCP-only mode via stdio bridge, use DCC tools from IDE/terminal
- **Hot-Swap in Editor** — One-click platform switch in Settings panel, auto disconnect/reconnect/refresh Agent list
### 🔄 Multi-Session & Agent Management
- **Multi-Agent Switching** — Select Agent in settings panel, toolbar shows current Agent info
- **Session List Management** — Create/switch/delete conversations, each Agent has independent session cache
- **Session Persistence** — Auto-recover last session after UE restart, DCC saves session state in real-time
### 🧠 Memory Management System v2
Three-tier progressive memory model — AI remembers user preferences and operation history:
- **Short-term** (4h / 200 entries) → **Medium-term** (7d / 500 entries) → **Long-term** (permanent / 1000 entries)
- Semantic tag classification (facts/preferences/norms/operations/crashes/patterns)
- Auto-promotion, deduplication, scheduled maintenance
- Operation history tracking and querying
### 📚 Local Knowledge Base (RAG)
Index API docs and project docs, semantic retrieval assists AI decision-making.
### 🛡️ Security & Stability
- Transaction protection, risk assessment, main-thread scheduling
- Shared module sync verification (`verify_sync.py` compares MD5, prevents multi-copy drift)
- Long-task timeout protection + active event reset
---
## 🎯 Supported Engines, DCCs & Agent Platforms
Currently verified with **OpenClaw + LobsterAI + Unreal Engine 5.7 + Maya 2023 + 3ds Max 2023 + Blender 5.1 + Substance Painter 11.0.1 + Substance Designer 12.1.0 + ComfyUI**. MCP-only platforms (Claude Code, Cursor, WorkBuddy) are configured and deployable. Other combinations are theoretically compatible but not tested — community feedback welcome.
### Engines & DCC Software
| Software | Verified Version | Status | Plugin | MCP Port | Notes |
|----------|-----------------|--------|--------|----------|-------|
| **Unreal Engine** | 5.7 | ✅ Verified | UEClawBridge | 8080 | C++ + Python, Slate UI chat panel |
| **Maya** | 2023 | ✅ Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8081 | Python 3.9.7 + PySide2, Qt chat panel |
| **3ds Max** | 2023 | ✅ Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8082 | Python 3.9.7 + PySide2, Qt chat panel, MaxScript startup |
| **Blender** | 5.1 | ✅ Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8083 | PySide6 standalone Qt window, bpy.app.timers driven |
| **Houdini** | — | ⚠️ Not Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8084 | Code implemented, hdefereval main-thread scheduling, not tested |
| **Substance Painter** | 11.0.1 | ✅ Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8085 | SP built-in Qt + QTimer polling |
| **Substance Designer** | 12.1.0 | ✅ Verified | DCCClawBridge | 8086 | SD built-in Qt + QTimer polling, pre-injected sd.api vars |
| **ComfyUI** | V0.19.0 | ✅ Verified | ComfyUIClawBridge | 8087 | Custom node, Python-only, WS MCP Server, no visible nodes |
| **Other UE / Maya Versions** | — | ⚠️ Not Verified | — | — | Theoretically compatible with UE 5.3+ / Maya 2022+, not tested |
### Agent Platforms
| Platform | Mode | Status | Notes |
|----------|------|--------|-------|
| **OpenClaw** | Full (Gateway) | ✅ Verified | Primary dev platform, in-editor chat + MCP tools, all features |
| **LobsterAI (Youdao)** | Full (Gateway) | ✅ Verified | OpenClaw repackaged, Gateway port 18790, in-editor chat + MCP tools |
| **Claude Code** | MCP-only (stdio) | ✅ Configured | CLI tool, MCP tools in terminal, no in-editor chat |
| **Cursor** | MCP-only (stdio) | ✅ Configured | VSCode fork, MCP tools in IDE, no in-editor chat |
| **WorkBuddy (Tencent)** | MCP-only (stdio) | ✅ Configured | VSCode fork, MCP tools in IDE, no in-editor chat |
> **Full mode** = in-editor AI chat panel + MCP tool calls (requires Gateway).
> **MCP-only mode** = MCP tool calls only, chat happens in the platform's own UI (via `artclaw_stdio_bridge.py`).
---
## 🛠️ Official Skills (47 Total)
### Universal Skills (5)
- **artclaw-knowledge** — Project knowledge base queries
- **artclaw-memory** — Memory management operations
- **artclaw-skill-manage** — Skill management operations
- **artclaw-tool-creator** — AI-guided tool creation
- **artclaw-tool-executor** — Tool execution dispatcher
### Unreal Engine Skills (6)
- **ue57-artclaw-context** — Editor context queries
- **ue57-artclaw-highlight** — Viewport highlighting
- **ue57-camera-transform** — Camera operations
- **ue57-operation-rules** — UE operation guidelines
- **ue57_get_material_nodes** — Material node queries
- **ue57_material_node_edit** — Material node editing
### Maya Skills (1)
- **maya-operation-rules** — Maya operation guidelines
### Blender Skills (4)
- **blender-context** — Editor context queries
- **blender-material-ops** — Material & node operations
- **blender-operation-rules** — Blender operation guidelines
- **blender-viewport-capture** — Viewport screenshot
### 3ds Max Skills (1)
- **max-operation-rules** — Max operation guidelines
### Houdini Skills (4)
- **houdini-context** — Editor context queries
- **houdini-node-ops** — Node operations
- **houdini-operation-rules** — Houdini operation guidelines
- **houdini-simulation** — Simulation operations
### Substance Painter Skills (4)
- **sp-context** — Editor context queries
- **sp-layer-ops** — Layer operations
- **sp-operation-rules** — SP operation guidelines
- **sp-bake-export** — Baking and export
### Substance Designer Skills (9)
- **sd-context** — Editor context queries
- **sd-learned-recipes** — Material recipe library
- **sd-node-ops** — Node operations
- **sd-node-catalog** — Node catalog reference
- **sd-node-capture** — Node screenshot & analysis
- **sd-operation-rules** — SD operation guidelines
- **sd-generators** — Generator node reference
- **sd-fxmap** — FX-Map creation guide
- **sd-pixel-processor** — Pixel Processor guide
### ComfyUI Skills (13)
- **comfyui-operation-rules** — ComfyUI operation guidelines
- **comfyui-context** — System info, models, queue status
- **comfyui-workflow-builder** — Workflow JSON construction guide
- **comfyui-txt2img** — Text-to-image workflow
- **comfyui-img2img** — Image-to-image workflow
- **comfyui-inpainting** — Inpainting workflow
- **comfyui-controlnet** — ControlNet workflow
- **comfyui-hires-fix** — High-resolution fix workflow
- **comfyui-model-manager** — Model management
- **comfyui-node-installer** — Missing node detection & install
- **comfyui-workflow-repair** — Workflow diagnosis & repair
- **comfyui-workflow-manager** — Workflow template library
- **comfyui-workflow-validator** — Workflow validation
---
## 🏗️ Architecture
```
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AI Agent (LLM) │
│ OpenClaw / LobsterAI / Claude Code / Cursor │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────┘
│ WebSocket (Upstream: Chat RPC / Downstream: MCP Tool Calls)
┌──────────────────────────▼───────────────────────────────────┐
│ Agent Gateway │
│ + MCP Bridge + ArtClawToolManager │
│ (Unified Agent, Session, MCP Server, Tool, Workflow mgmt) │
└──────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────┘
│ WebSocket JSON-RPC (MCP)
┌─────────────────┼─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│ UE │ │ Maya │ │ Blender │ │ ComfyUI │
│ :8080 │ │ :8081 │ │ :8083 │ │ :8087 │
└────┬────┘ └────┬────┘ └────┬────┘ └────┬────┘
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
UE API Maya API bpy API ComfyUI API
│ │ │ │
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│ 3dsMax │ │ Houdini │ │ SP │ │ SD │
│ :8082 │ │ :8084 │ │ :8085 │ │ :8086 │
└─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘
```
**Dual-Link Communication**:
- **Upstream (Chat)**: Editor Panel → Gateway WebSocket RPC → AI Agent
- **Downstream (Tool Calls)**: AI Agent → Gateway → MCP Bridge → DCC MCP Server → DCC API
Each DCC software runs an independent MCP Server, exposing editor capabilities to AI Agents through a unified protocol. Skill system, knowledge base, memory storage, and other core modules are shared across DCCs.
---
## 🖥️ ArtClawToolManager — Web Management Dashboard
A standalone web-based management interface for unified control of Skills, Tools, and Workflows across all DCC platforms.
### Features
- **Web-Based Chat Panel** — Control AI Agents directly from the browser, no DCC installation required
- **Skill Management** — Browse, install, update, and manage all Skills across platforms
- **Tool Registry** — Unified registry for content filtering and automation tools
- **Workflow Management** — Create, manage, and execute AI-driven workflow templates
- **ComfyUI Integration** — Direct AI control of ComfyUI through the web interface
- **Cross-Platform** — Single dashboard manages all connected DCC software
### Usage
The web page panel is connected to the same Agent Gateway as the DCC plugin, providing an alternative interface for AI conversations and tool/workflow management. It needs to be used in conjunction with the DCC software.
---
## 🔧 Tool & Workflow Architecture
A unified paradigm designed for **content filtering, automation triggering, and AI-driven workflows**. Built as a three-layer architecture:
### Tool Layer
- **Registration** — Tools register with the ToolManager via standard manifest
- **Execution** — Unified `execute_tool(tool_id, inputs)` API with standardized I/O
- **Filtering** — Built-in content filtering pipeline (validate → filter → transform → output)
- **Scheduling** — Cron-based and event-triggered automation
### Workflow Layer
- **Template System** — JSON-based workflow templates with variable substitution
- **Chain Execution** — Multi-step workflows with dependency resolution
- **State Management** — Workflow state persistence across sessions
- **AI Integration** — LLMs can trigger workflows via `execute_workflow()` API
### Trigger Layer
- **Event-Driven** — File system events, API calls, message queues
- **Conditional Logic** — Filter conditions, threshold checks, content validation
- **Fan-Out** — Single trigger → multiple tool/workflow execution
- **Audit Trail** — Full execution logging for debugging and compliance
This architecture enables powerful automation scenarios:
- AI detects scene changes → triggers content validation workflow
- New asset imported → runs automated QA tools
- ComfyUI generation complete → triggers downstream DCC pipeline
---
## 🚀 Installation
> 💡 **The Easiest Way: Let AI Install It For You**
Instead of manual installation, simply tell your AI Agent:
> *"Install ArtClaw Bridge for me. I need it for [UE/Maya/Blender/ComfyUI/etc.] at [path if needed]."*
Your Agent will handle everything — cloning, dependencies, configuration, and MCP setup.
**Example prompts:**
- *"Install ArtClaw Bridge for Unreal Engine 5.7, my project is at D:\MyProject\UE_Game"*
- *"Set up ArtClaw Bridge for Maya 2023 and Blender 5.1"*
- *"Install ArtClaw Bridge for ComfyUI at C:\ComfyUI"*
- *"Install ArtClaw Bridge with all DCC support"*
### Prerequisites
- **Python** 3.9+
- **Agent Platform** (choose one):
- [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) (`npm install -g openclaw`) — Full mode
- [LobsterAI](https://lobsterai.com/) (Youdao) — Full mode
- [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code) / [Cursor](https://cursor.com/) / [WorkBuddy](https://codebuddy.ai/) — MCP-only mode
- Target DCC software (choose as needed):
- UE 5.7 (recommended, theoretically compatible with 5.3+)
- Maya 2023 (recommended, theoretically compatible with 2022+)
- 3ds Max 2023 (verified, theoretically compatible with 2020+)
- Blender 5.1 (verified, auto-installs PySide6)
- Houdini (not tested)
- Substance Painter 11.0.1 (verified)
- Substance Designer 12.1.0 (verified)
- ComfyUI (verified, install via ComfyUI-Manager or copy to custom_nodes)
### Manual Installation (If You Prefer)
```bash
# 1. Clone repo
git clone https://github.com/IvanYangYangXi/artclaw_bridge.git
cd artclaw_bridge
# 2. Run interactive installer
install.bat # Windows
# or
python install.py --help # View all options
```
The installer will automatically:
1. Copy plugin files to target DCC standard directories
2. Deploy `core/` shared modules (self-contained, no source directory needed)
3. Install official Skills to platform directory (`~/.openclaw/skills/` or LobsterAI equivalent)
4. **Safely handle startup files** (append mode, doesn't overwrite existing user content)
5. Configure Agent platform mcp-bridge integration
6. Write `~/.artclaw/config.json` project config
7. Idempotent (safe to run multiple times)
For detailed manual installation instructions, see [INSTALL_GUIDE.md](INSTALL_GUIDE.md).
### Post-Install Verification
| DCC | Verification Steps |
|-----|-------------------|
| **UE** | Open project → Enable "UE Claw Bridge" plugin → Restart → Window → UE Claw Bridge → Connect |
| **Maya** | Launch Maya → **ArtClaw** appears in menu bar → Open Chat Panel → Connect |
| **3ds Max** | Launch Max → ArtClaw auto-loads → Menu bar ArtClaw → Chat Panel → Connect |
| **Blender** | Launch Blender → Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Enable ArtClaw Bridge → Sidebar ArtClaw → Start Bridge |
| **Houdini** | Launch Houdini → Shelf → ArtClaw → Start Bridge |
| **SP** | Launch Substance Painter → Python → artclaw → start_plugin → Chat Panel |
| **SD** | Launch Substance Designer → Python → artclaw → start_plugin → Chat Panel |
| **ComfyUI** | Launch ComfyUI → Check console for "ArtClaw: ComfyUI Bridge 启动中..." → Web dashboard detects connection |
### Uninstall
```bash
python install.py --uninstall --maya # Uninstall Maya plugin
python install.py --uninstall --ue --ue-project "C:\project" # Uninstall UE plugin
python install.py --uninstall --blender --blender-version 5.1 # Uninstall Blender plugin
python install.py --uninstall --sp # Uninstall Substance Painter plugin
python install.py --uninstall --sd # Uninstall Substance Designer plugin
python install.py --uninstall --comfyui --comfyui-path "C:\ComfyUI" # Uninstall ComfyUI plugin
```
The uninstall script removes plugin directories and **only removes ArtClaw code blocks** from startup files (doesn't affect existing user content).
---
## 🛠️ Skill System
### Directory Structure
**Workflow**: Edit installed directory → `Publish` (installed→source + version increment + git commit) → `Update` (source→installed)
### Creating Skills
Describe in natural language directly in the editor:
> "Create a skill for me to batch rename selected Actors in the scene, adding a specified prefix"
AI will auto-generate `SKILL.md` + `manifest.json` + `__init__.py`, ready to use after confirmation.
---
## 🤝 Contributing
Issues and Pull Requests welcome! Especially looking for contributions in:
- 🔌 **New DCC Bridge Implementations** — Support for more DCC software
- 🛠️ **New Skills** — Useful Skills for various DCCs (currently have UE / Maya / Max / Blender / Houdini / SP / SD / ComfyUI official Skills)
- 🧪 **Testing Feedback** — Test on unverified DCC versions and report
- 📖 **Documentation** — Usage tutorials, best practices
### Contribution Workflow
1. Fork this repository
2. Create feature branch: `git checkout -b feat/my-feature`
3. Commit changes: `git commit -m "feat: add my feature"`
4. Push and create PR
See [Contributing Guide](docs/skills/CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
---
## 📖 Documentation
- **[System Architecture](docs/specs/系统架构设计.md)** — Overall architecture and design principles
- **[Skill Development Guide](docs/skills/SKILL_DEVELOPMENT_GUIDE.md)** — Writing custom Skills
- **[Skill Specification](docs/skills/MANIFEST_SPEC.md)** — manifest.json format specification
- **[Code Standards](docs/specs/代码规范.md)** — Project coding conventions
- **[Multi-Platform Compatibility](docs/UEClawBridge/features/多平台兼容设计方案.md)** — Platform abstraction layer design
- **[DCCClawBridge](subprojects/DCCClawBridge/README.md)** — Maya / Max / Blender / Houdini / SP / SD plugin details
- **[ComfyUIClawBridge](subprojects/ComfyUIClawBridge/__init__.py)** — ComfyUI plugin details
- **[Contributing Guide](docs/skills/CONTRIBUTING.md)** — How to contribute
---
## 🧾 Design Philosophy
### Why Not Build Yet Another Agent Platform?
Agent platforms are a big undertaking. Many companies are already building excellent ones (OpenClaw, LobsterAI, Claude Code, Cursor, etc.).
This project focuses on **the specific engineering problem of bridging** — enabling these existing platforms to control creative software. We don't reinvent the wheel; we make the wheel fit more vehicles.
### Why MCP + Skills Instead of Direct LLM Integration?
Direct LLM integration is a black box — unpredictable and uncontrollable. Like early AI image generation: impressive, but not production-ready.
ArtClaw Bridge adds **engineering discipline** to AI execution:
- Structured Skills provide predictable behavior
- MCP protocol standardizes communication
- Tool Manager enables controllable automation
This approach mirrors Claude Code's philosophy: use engineering to make LLM execution correct and controllable, not magical.
### Who Benefits?
- **Artists** — Can leverage AI for automation without learning to code
- **Technical Artists** — Can build and share reusable Skills across teams
- **Developers** — Can integrate AI into existing pipelines without building custom Agent infrastructure
- **Studios** — Can standardize AI tooling across multiple DCCs and projects
---
## 📄 License
This project is open-sourced under [MIT License](LICENSE).
## 👤 Author
**Ivan (Yang Jili)** — [@IvanYangYangXi](https://github.com/IvanYangYangXi)
---
## ☕ Support This Project
If ArtClaw Bridge helps your work, consider buying the author a coffee ☕
[](https://github.com/sponsors/IvanYangYangXi)
Your support is the biggest motivation for continued development and maintenance! 🚀
