1Install imagic and start the trial

The MCP server ships with imagic Max, and the free 7-day trial unlocks everything with no card. Download it from the desktop page first, because Amazon Q Developer needs something to talk to.

If you installed with pip rather than the packaged app, MCP is an optional extra: pip install imagic[mcp].

2Add imagic to Amazon Q Developer

The CLI writes the file for you, which sidesteps the two-file confusion below.

q mcp add --name imagic --command imagic-mcp

Configuration

Amazon Q Developer reads ~/.aws/amazonq/mcp.json (global) or .amazonq/mcp.json (workspace). The top-level key is mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "imagic": {
      "command": "imagic-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Where that file lives

macOS	`~/.aws/amazonq/mcp.json`
Linux	`~/.aws/amazonq/mcp.json`

AWS publishes this path in ~ form only and documents no Windows expansion, so use the command or the UI above rather than guessing where it lands.

Where to find it in the interface

Amazon Q Developer panel, then Chat, then the tools icon, then plus.

3Ask for a cull

Restart Amazon Q Developer if it was already running, then point it at a shoot:

Cull the shoot in D:/Shoots/eva_tom, apply my style, and export the keepers.

Amazon Q Developer will call scan_directory, analyze_photos, apply_my_style and export_photos in turn. Every one of those runs on your machine: the agent sends instructions, never your photos.

Things that catch people out

AWS is mid-migration between two files. The IDE now writes default.json, while mcp.json still works through the useLegacyMcpJson setting, which defaults to true. The CLI reads mcp.json.
Workspace config wins over global when both name the same server.
The timeout field is in milliseconds and defaults to 120000.
AWS publishes these paths in tilde form only, with no Windows expansion.

What imagic can do once it is connected

scan_directory analyze_photos apply_my_style export_photos

That is 18 tools in total, covering the library, culling, editing and your learned style. See the full tool reference, or the workflows for what to actually ask for.

Setting up a different client?

Claude Code Claude Desktop Cursor VS Code and GitHub Copilot Codex CLI Gemini CLI

Try it on a real shoot

The 7-day trial includes imagic Max, the MCP server and every tool on this page. No card required.

Start the free trial Read the MCP guide

Configuration verified against AWS's documentation. If Amazon Q Developer changes its setup and this page falls behind, tell us and we will fix it.

Connect imagic to Amazon Q Developer