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 LM Studio 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 LM Studio

Edit mcp.json from the Program tab in the right-hand sidebar.

Configuration

LM Studio reads mcp.json. The top-level key is mcpServers.

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

Where that file lives

Windows	`%USERPROFILE%/.lmstudio/mcp.json`
macOS	`~/.lmstudio/mcp.json`
Linux	`~/.lmstudio/mcp.json`

Where to find it in the interface

Right-hand sidebar, then the Program tab, then Install, then Edit mcp.json.

3Ask for a cull

Restart LM Studio 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.

LM Studio 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

Needs LM Studio 0.3.17 or newer.
LM Studio follows Cursor's mcp.json notation, so the block above is the Cursor shape.
Every tool call raises a confirmation dialog by default.
This is the only setup on this list where both the model and the photos stay entirely on your machine.

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?

JetBrains AI Assistant Amazon Q Developer Claude Code Claude Desktop Cursor VS Code and GitHub Copilot

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

Connect imagic to LM Studio