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 Gemini CLI 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 Gemini CLI

The -s user flag matters. Without it the server is added to the current project only.

gemini mcp add -s user imagic imagic-mcp

Configuration

Gemini CLI reads ~/.gemini/settings.json (user) or .gemini/settings.json (project). The top-level key is mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "imagic": {
      "command": "imagic-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Where that file lives

All platforms	`~/.gemini/settings.json`

3Ask for a cull

Restart Gemini CLI 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.

Gemini CLI 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

gemini mcp add defaults to project scope, unlike most other clients. Run it without -s user and imagic will seem to vanish in your next folder.
Project settings override user settings, and system settings override both.
Google does not document whether hand-editing settings.json needs a restart.

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?

Windsurf (Devin Desktop) Zed Continue Goose Warp LM Studio

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 Google's documentation. If Gemini CLI changes its setup and this page falls behind, tell us and we will fix it.

Connect imagic to Gemini CLI