MCP Image vs Photoshop MCP
A side-by-side look at the MCP Image and Photoshop MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Image for multimedia process work as a local process; choose Photoshop MCP for multimedia process as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Image when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
GEMINI_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, ARK_API_KEY, IMAGE_PROVIDER, IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR, IMAGE_QUALITY, SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT.
Choose Photoshop MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multimedia Process | Multimedia Process |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 52/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | BYOK (pay the provider) | Free |
| Required env vars | GEMINI_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYARK_API_KEYIMAGE_PROVIDERIMAGE_OUTPUT_DIRIMAGE_QUALITYSKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 181 | 709 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 7 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View MCP Image | View Photoshop MCP |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Image tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Photoshop MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
MCP Image
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-image": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-image"
],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"ARK_API_KEY": "YOUR_ARK_API_KEY_HERE",
"IMAGE_PROVIDER": "YOUR_IMAGE_PROVIDER_HERE",
"IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR": "YOUR_IMAGE_OUTPUT_DIR_HERE",
"IMAGE_QUALITY": "YOUR_IMAGE_QUALITY_HERE",
"SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT": "YOUR_SKIP_PROMPT_ENHANCEMENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Photoshop MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"photoshop-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"-p",
"@alisaitteke/photoshop-mcp",
"ui"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Image is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Photoshop MCP belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Image for multimedia process work and Photoshop MCP for multimedia process.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
MCP Image is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. Photoshop MCP is listed as free. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add mcp-image and photoshop-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Image has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 181 GitHub stars. Photoshop MCP has 52/100 (Good) with 7 views, 0 installs and 709 GitHub stars.