MCP Setup

What this is

Claude can't generate images on its own. Claude Imagine's MCP server closes that gap: connect it once, then ask Claude for an image in plain English and it generates one using your credit balance — no leaving the chat.

The server speaks the Model Context Protocol over Streamable HTTP at:

https://claudeimagine.com/api/mcp

Authentication is OAuth 2.1 (PKCE + dynamic client registration). There is no API key to paste. When you add the server, your Claude client discovers the auth endpoints automatically and opens a browser window for you to log in and consent. After that, it just works.

Setup for Claude Code (CLI)

Run one command:

claude mcp add --transport http claude-imagine https://claudeimagine.com/api/mcp

Claude Code opens a browser to log in and consent. Once you approve, the three tools below are available in your sessions.

Setup for claude.ai and Claude Desktop

Add it as a custom connector by URL. The feature is in beta and available on Free, Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one custom connector).

Pro / Max (individual):

1. Go to Customize → Connectors.
2. Click +, then Add custom connector.
3. Paste https://claudeimagine.com/api/mcp as the remote MCP server URL.
4. Click Add. A browser window opens for OAuth login and consent.

Team / Enterprise: an owner first adds it under Organization settings → Connectors (Add → hover Custom → Web → paste the URL → Add), then each member goes to Customize → Connectors, finds the connector marked "Custom", and clicks Connect to authenticate.

Once connected, enable it per conversation with the + button in the chat, then Connectors.

Menu wording can shift as Claude's UI evolves. The constant is: Connectors → add a custom connector → paste the URL above.

Tools

Once connected, Claude has three tools:

generate_image

Generate an image from a text prompt.

• prompt (string, required) — what to draw.
• model (optional) — one of nano-banana-2 (default, best quality/price), gpt-image-2, seedream-4.5, flux-2-pro, z-image (fastest & cheapest).
• aspect_ratio (optional) — one of 1:1, 4:3, 3:4, 16:9, 9:16. Defaults to 1:1.

Returns the URL of the generated image. Credits are consumed on success and refunded automatically if a generation fails.

list_models

Lists the available models and the live credit cost per image for your current plan tier. Takes no arguments.

get_credits

Returns your remaining credit balance. Takes no arguments.

Credits

MCP and the web generator share one balance — the same credits work in both places, and you top up on the same pricing page. The per-image cost depends on the model and your plan tier; call list_models to see current costs for your account.

Troubleshooting

• The OAuth popup didn't appear. Re-run the add command (Claude Code) or remove and re-add the connector (claude.ai / Desktop). The login window only opens on the first connection.
• "Not enough credits." Check your balance with get_credits and top up at claudeimagine.com/pricing.
• Costs look different than expected. Credit costs shown by list_models are for your current plan tier — they change if your plan changes.

A note on independence

Claude Imagine is an independent tool that works alongside Claude. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic, PBC. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Anthropic.