Image MCP Server

This MCP server turns a plain-language request into an image file. It adds relevant photographic details such as lighting, camera angle, materials, and palette, then returns the saved image as an MCP resource. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.

People connecting media tools to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in TypeScript.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-08-23 · ★ 155 · #5 OF 155 MAINTAINED MEDIA · VERIFIED 2026-08-25

MIT · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Image

before you install - you'll need

Set GEMINI_API_KEY, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_PROVIDER, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY before connecting. IMAGE_QUALITY is optional or environment-specific per the README.

Claude Code

claude mcp add shinpr-mcp-image -- npx -y mcp-image

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "shinpr-mcp-image": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-image"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package mcp-image - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.shinpr is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Image can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

v0.13.0 · 2026-08-23

This release adds per-request image provider selection and clearer credential errors. · Per-request provider selection · gemini, openai, or seedream. · A request-level provider takes precedence over IMAGE_PROVIDER.…

v0.12.2 · 2026-08-03

This release updates project dependencies and refreshes the lockfile. · Highlights · Updated the OpenAI SDK to 7.3.0, Google GenAI to 2.15.0, and the MCP SDK to 1.30.0. · Updated development tooling and Node.js type…

v0.12.1 · 2026-08-01

OpenAI prompt enhancement now uses gpt-5.4-nano instead of gpt-4o-mini, which produces more specific photographic detail such as focal length and aperture.

04 · Who maintains Image

mcp-image is maintained by shinpr. We track 3 MCP servers from shinpr - 3 actively maintained, 622 combined GitHub stars, oldest repo from Aug 2025. Full record: all servers from shinpr.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/shinpr/mcp-image
category: media - ranked #5 of 155 actively-maintained media servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 7 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-23)
registry: io.github.shinpr/mcp-image (active, first published 2025-09-12 · 27 versions)
packages: npm:mcp-image

06 · Image FAQ

What is Image?

Is Image still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-23 and it shipped 7 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Image?

Run `npx -y mcp-image`. The README documents 6 environment variables (GEMINI_API_KEY, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_PROVIDER…) to set first. Set GEMINI_API_KEY, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_PROVIDER, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY before connecting. IMAGE_QUALITY is optional or environment-specific per the README. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Image run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Image

Alternatives to Image

Maintained media servers if Image isn't the fit.

More media MCP servers · Markitup MCP Server · Sonilo Music & Sound Effects · Watch CLI · Transcription · Ssemble AI Clipping

More TypeScript MCP servers · Local RAG (shinpr) · Sub Agents MCP · L402 Kit · Ship Static · Vecline · see all