Recto Studio

Open-source desktop publishing for books, magazines, zines, and print.

Open Studio · Download desktop builds · Publishing guide · MCP setup

Recto Studio is a local-first page layout editor. Set a manuscript in linked
frames, build a visual system with parent pages and styles, then prepare the
same publication for print, EPUB, or review. Recto is designed for independent
publishers and editorial designers, with the same canvas available for covers,
brochures, catalogs, and other short-form work.

New · Local publishing through MCP

Design once in Recto. Automate the next edition. Connect a local Model
Context Protocol (MCP) client to a saved publication and use Recto’s layout
and export engines to prepare proofs, translations, and personalized runs.

The server is an opt-in CLI command with read-only access by default. It opens
the workspace folder you choose. The desktop and web editors launch as usual.

Set up Recto MCP and try the example prompts →

Start a publication

1. Choose the format. Start from a blank document or a layout starter.
   Set trim, margins, bleed, guides, and facing pages.
2. Place copy and artwork. Import a Word, Markdown, or plain-text manuscript.
   Use linked text frames, parent pages, reusable artwork, and document fonts.
3. Review and deliver. Check overset and preflight issues, compare PDF
   proofs, and export a print PDF, EPUB, HTML flipbook, or publication package.

Keep a .recto project as your editable source. Use Export → Save Editable
Project Archive to back up all editions, including nonprinting material,
in one file. Project archive and print package guide

The browser editor opens without an account. Choose File → Install or use
offline for app installation and offline setup. On macOS Sonoma 14 or later,
open Recto in Safari and choose File → Add to Dock. The desktop guide
covers Windows, Linux, and the downloadable macOS preview.

Use V for Selection, T for Type, P for Pen, and W for Preview.

Use the toolbar’s Appearance button to open the workspace popup. Choose
Dark, Light, Midnight, OLED, or System, set a preset or custom accent color, and
pick Classic, Minimal, or Glass controls. Recto saves these preferences on this
device. Quick Apply (Ctrl+/) can switch themes from the keyboard.

The hosted editor supports optional aggregate visit and unique-browser counts.
See the visit counter setup for the data and deployment details.

Use Links → Bulk relink images to match replacement files by filename and
review them before applying. Use Templates → Saved layouts to reuse
standalone artwork and text from a spread. Export a .rectolayout file to move
the layout to another device.

What's in the editor

Some workflows have format-specific limits. The guides explain what carries
over, which checks run automatically, and what needs review before production.

Pick a guide

• Manuscripts and stories
• Fonts, variable axes, and PDF embedding
• Publishing, proof review, and prepress
• InDesign and IDML handoff
• Collaboration · Scripting
• Desktop installation · Performance
• Local publishing automation

Upcoming work

• Editorial interchange. Expand IDML and Scribus coverage for compound
  paths, complex groups, linked images, and advanced typography. Run a broader
  handoff corpus through licensed InDesign installations.
• Print verification. Exercise real press and RIP workflows with the Ghent
  Output Suite, add checks against printer-supplied preflight profiles, and
  extend coverage of trapping and colour effects.
• Artwork and typography. Add linked symbols, editable patterns and mesh
  fills, non-destructive image adjustments, and broader font and script coverage.
• Production automation. Expand MCP coverage for styles and artwork, add
  more data-source adapters, and extend repeatable book and batch delivery.

Develop

CI uses Node.js 24. The web editor uses TypeScript, Preact, and Vite. The desktop
shell uses Tauri.

npm ci
npm run dev

npm test
npm run build
npm run analyze:bundle
npm exec -- vite optimize --force
npx playwright install chromium
npm run test:e2e

The deployment workflow runs regression and
browser tests plus independent checks on generated publication files.

Project and support

Created by Abhinav Sidhu. Recto Studio is released under the MIT License.

Thanks to shega2901 for testing real InDesign
exports and reporting IDML import and development startup bugs.

• UPI · artificiaisme@okhdfcbank · Payment QR
• Solana (SOL or USDC) · 26Z52ETXSHwQWLZX6BdgVFyDaTPSeKMbxJeY9S7SVmE6 · Address on Solscan

Recto Studio™ and the Recto logo are trademarks of Abhinav Sidhu.