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 Zed 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 Zed

Add it through Settings, or edit settings.json directly with the block below.

Configuration

Zed reads settings.json. The top-level key is context_servers, which is not the mcpServers key most other clients use.

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

Where that file lives

Windows	`%APPDATA%\Zed\settings.json`
macOS	`~/.config/zed/settings.json`
Linux	`~/.config/zed/settings.json`

Where to find it in the interface

Settings, then AI, then MCP Servers, then Add Server, then Add Local Server.

3Ask for a cull

Restart Zed 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.

Zed 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

Zed uses context_servers, not mcpServers. Pasting a standard MCP block into settings.json will silently do nothing.
Older guides include a source: custom key. The current schema does not use it.

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?

Continue Goose Warp LM Studio JetBrains AI Assistant Amazon Q Developer

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

Connect imagic to Zed