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 VS Code and GitHub Copilot 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 VS Code and GitHub Copilot

This writes the config for you, which avoids the key mistake below.

code --add-mcp "{\"name\":\"imagic\",\"command\":\"imagic-mcp\"}"

Configuration

VS Code and GitHub Copilot reads .vscode/mcp.json. The top-level key is servers, which is not the mcpServers key most other clients use.

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

Where that file lives

All platforms	`.vscode/mcp.json (workspace)`

Where to find it in the interface

Command Palette, then MCP: Add Server, or MCP: Open User Configuration for a machine-wide install.

3Ask for a cull

Restart VS Code and GitHub Copilot 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.

VS Code and GitHub Copilot 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

The top-level key is servers, not mcpServers. This is the single most common reason an imagic setup that works in Cursor does nothing in VS Code.
Tools appear in Copilot Chat's agent mode, not in ordinary chat.
VS Code prompts you to trust the server the first time it starts.
Microsoft routes users to the Command Palette for the user-level file rather than publishing its path, so use MCP: Open User Configuration.

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?

Codex CLI Gemini CLI Windsurf (Devin Desktop) Zed Continue Goose

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 Microsoft and GitHub's documentation. If VS Code and GitHub Copilot changes its setup and this page falls behind, tell us and we will fix it.

Connect imagic to VS Code and GitHub Copilot