Connect imagic to Claude Code

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 Claude Code 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 Claude Code

The double dash is required. Without it Claude Code reads imagic's own flags as its own.

claude mcp add imagic -- imagic-mcp

If you are running the packaged Windows app rather than a pip install:

claude mcp add imagic -- "C:\Program Files\imagic\imagic.exe" --mcp

Configuration

Claude Code reads .mcp.json (project) or ~/.claude.json (user). The top-level key is mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "imagic": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "imagic-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Where that file lives

Where to find it in the interface

Run /mcp inside a session to see status and enable or disable servers.

3Ask for a cull

Restart Claude Code 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.

Claude Code 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

• Scope is fixed when you add the server. The default is local, meaning this project only; pass --scope user to make imagic available everywhere.
• Anthropic's docs explicitly note that ~/.claude/mcp.json and %APPDATA%\Claude\mcp.json are not read. Only the paths above are.
• A project-scoped server needs interactive approval the first time Claude Code sees it.
• Restart the session after editing .mcp.json by hand; it is read at session start.

What imagic can do once it is connected

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?

Configuration verified against Anthropic's documentation. If Claude Code changes its setup and this page falls behind, tell us and we will fix it.