Stability AI▌
by tadasant
Generate and edit images with Stability AI's powerful ai image generator using advanced Stable Diffusion models for stun
Integrates Stability AI's image generation and manipulation capabilities for editing, upscaling, and more via Stable Diffusion models.
Both formats append explainx.ai attribution and the canonical URL for this MCP server listing.
best for
- / Content creators needing AI-generated artwork
- / Developers building image generation features
- / Designers prototyping visual concepts
capabilities
- / Generate images from text prompts
- / Edit existing images with AI
- / Upscale images to higher resolutions
- / Manipulate images using Stable Diffusion models
what it does
Connects to Stability AI's API to generate, edit, and upscale images using Stable Diffusion models. Requires a Stability AI API key to access their hosted image generation services.
about
Stability AI is a community-built MCP server published by tadasant that provides AI assistants with tools and capabilities via the Model Context Protocol. Generate and edit images with Stability AI's powerful ai image generator using advanced Stable Diffusion models for stun It is categorized under ai ml.
how to install
You can install Stability AI in your AI client of choice. Use the install panel on this page to get one-click setup for Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. This server runs locally on your machine via the stdio transport.
license
MIT
Stability AI is released under the MIT license. This is a permissive open-source license, meaning you can freely use, modify, and distribute the software.
readme
Haven't heard about MCP yet? The easiest way to keep up-to-date is to read our [weekly newsletter at PulseMCP](https://www.pulsemcp.com/). --- This is an MCP ([Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)) Server integrating MCP Clients with [Stability AI](https://stability.ai/)'s latest & greatest Stable Diffusion image manipulation functionalities: generate, edit, upscale, and more. Stability AI is a leading AI model provider and this server connects directly to their [hosted REST API](https://platform.stability.ai/docs/api-reference). You will need to sign up for an [API Key from stability.ai](https://platform.stability.ai/account/keys) to get started. They provide 25 credits for free. Afterward, [pay-as-you-go pricing](https://platform.stability.ai/pricing) is very reasonable: $0.01/credit, where 3 credits gets you an image generation on their Core model. So 100 high quality images = just $3. This project is NOT officially affiliated with Stability AI. [Demo video](https://youtu.be/7ceSgVC4ZLs), and a teaser here: 
# Table of Contents - [Highlights](#highlights) - [Capabilities](#capabilities) - [Usage Tips](#usage-tips) - [Examples](#examples) - [Setup](#setup) - [Cheatsheet](#cheatsheet) - [Claude Desktop](#claude-desktop) - [Manual Setup](#manual-setup) # Highlights **No learning curve**: This server is designed to use sensible defaults and provide simple, smooth UX for the most common actions related to generating and manipulating image files. You don't need to be technical or understand anything about image models to use it effectively. **Chain manipulations**: You can generate an image, then replace an item within it, then remove the background... all in a single Claude conversation. **Minimal configuration**: All you need to get started is a Stability AI API key. Set environment variables for that and a local directory path to store output images, and you're ready to go. **Leverage the best in class image models**: Stability AI is the leading provider of image models exposed via API. Using this server integrates them into Claude or another MCP client - head and shoulders above an experience like using DALL-E models in ChatGPT. # Capabilities This server is built and tested on macOS with Claude Desktop. It should work with other MCP clients as well. | Tool Name | Description | Estimated Stability API Cost | | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | `generate-image` | Generate a high quality image of anything based on a provided prompt & other optional parameters. | $0.03 | | `generate-image-sd35` | Generate an image using Stable Diffusion 3.5 models with advanced configuration options. | $0.04-$0.07 | | `remove-background` | Remove the background from an image. | $0.02 | | `outpaint` | Extend an image in any direction while maintaining visual consistency. | $0.04 | | `search-and-replace` | Replace objects or elements in an image by describing what to replace and what to replace it with. | $0.04 | | `upscale-fast` | Enhance image resolution by 4x. | $0.01 | | `upscale-creative` | Enhance image resolution up to 4K. | $0.25 | | `control-sketch` | Translate hand-drawn sketch to production-grade image. | $0.03 | | `control-style` | Generate an image in the style of a reference image. | $0.04 | | `control-structure` | Generate an image while maintaining the structure of a reference image. | $0.03 | | `replace-background-and-relight` | Replace the background of an image and relight it. | $0.08 | | `search-and-recolor` | Search for and recolor objects in an image. | $0.05 | # Usage Tips - All processed images are automatically saved to `IMAGE_STORAGE_DIRECTORY`, opened for preview, and made available as resources - Do _not_ try to copy/paste or upload image files to Claude. Claude does not store images anywhere, so we cannot work with those with the MCP server. They have to be "uploaded" (saved to) the `IMAGE_STORAGE_DIRECTORY` and then they will show up as resources available in the chat. - You can use Prompts that come preloaded instead of writing your own verbiage:
# Examples
## Generate an image
1. `Generate an image of a cat`
2. `Generate a photorealistic image of a cat in a cyberpunk city, neon lights reflecting off its fur, 16:9 aspect ratio`
3. `Generate a detailed digital art piece of a cat wearing a space suit floating through a colorful nebula, style preset: digital-art, aspect ratio: 21:9`
## Generate an image with SD3.5
1. `Generate an image of a woman with cybernetic wolf ears using the SD3.5 model, with the "neon-punk" style preset`
2. `Generate an image of a futuristic city using the SD3.5 Large Turbo model, with aspect ratio 16:9`
3. `Generate an image of an astronaut on mars using the SD3.5 Large model, with cfg scale 7.5, "analog-film" style preset, and seed 42`
## Remove background
1. `Remove the background from the image I just generated`
2. `Remove the background from product-photo.jpg to prepare it for my e-commerce site`
3. `Remove the background from group-photo.png so I can composite it with another image`
## Outpaint (Uncrop)
1. `Extend vacation-photo.jpg 500 pixels to the right to include more of the beach`
2. `Extend family-portrait.png 300 pixels up to show more of the mountains, and 200 pixels right to include more landscape`
3. `Extend artwork.png in all directions to create a wider fantasy forest scene that matches the original environment`
## Search and Replace
1. `In my last image, replace the red car with a blue car`
2. `In portrait.png, replace the plain background with a sunset over mountains`
3. `In landscape.jpg, replace the modern buildings with victorian-era architecture while maintaining the same atmosphere`
## Upscale
1. `Upscale profile-pic.jpg for better resolution`
2. `Upscale product-photo.png to make it print-ready`
And then, if the output still isn't good enough, you can upscale it again:
1. `Try again with better quality`
## Control Sketch
1. `Transform sketch.png into a colored illustration for a children's book`
2. `Convert wireframe.jpg into a detailed 3D render for a modern architectural visualization`
## Control Style
1. `Generate an image in the style of the reference image`
## Control Structure
1. `Generate an image while maintaining the structure of the reference image`
## Replace Background and Relight
1. `Replace the background of the image I just generated with a sunset over mountains`
## Search and Recolor
1. `In my last image, make the red car be blue instead`
# Setup
## Metadata Logging
The server can save metadata from image generation requests to help with tracking and troubleshooting.
| Environment Variable | Description | Required | Default Value |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------- |
| `SAVE_METADATA` | Save metadata for successful image generations | N | `true` |
| `SAVE_METADATA_FAILED` | Save metadata for failed image generations | N | `false` |
When enabled, a `.txt` file with the same name as the generated image will be created in the same directory. This file contains:
- Timestamp of the request
- All request parameters (prompt, model, style preset, etc.)
- Response information (success status, generation time)
This file will also be created for failed requests if `SAVE_METADATA_FAILED` is enabled.
## Cheatsheet
| Environment Variable | Description
---FAQ
- What is the Stability AI MCP server?
- Stability AI is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server profile on explainx.ai. MCP lets AI hosts (e.g. Claude Desktop, Cursor) call tools and resources through a standard interface; this page summarizes categories, install hints, and community ratings.
- How do MCP servers relate to agent skills?
- Skills are reusable instruction packages (often SKILL.md); MCP servers expose live capabilities. Teams frequently combine both—skills for workflows, MCP for APIs and data. See explainx.ai/skills and explainx.ai/mcp-servers for parallel directories.
- How are reviews shown for Stability AI?
- This profile displays 70 aggregated ratings (sample rows for discoverability plus signed-in user reviews). Average score is about 4.7 out of 5—verify behavior in your own environment before production use.
Use Cases▌
Extended AI Capabilities
Add new capabilities to Claude beyond text generation
Example
Access external data sources, execute code, interact with tools and services
Transform Claude from chatbot to action-taking agent
Context Enhancement
Provide Claude with access to relevant context and data
Example
Load project documentation, access knowledge bases, query databases
Get more accurate, context-aware responses
Workflow Automation
Automate multi-step workflows combining AI and external tools
Example
Research → Summarize → Create document → Send notification
Complete complex tasks end-to-end without manual steps
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop 0.7.0+ or Cursor IDE with MCP support
- ›Basic understanding of MCP architecture and capabilities
- ›Access credentials for integrated services (if required)
- ›Willingness to experiment and iterate on configuration
Time Estimate
15-60 minutes depending on server complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install MCP server: npm install -g [package-name] or via GitHub
- 2.Add server configuration to ~/.claude/mcp.json
- 3.Provide required credentials and configuration
- 4.Restart Claude Desktop to load new server
- 5.Test basic functionality with simple prompts
- 6.Explore capabilities and experiment with use cases
- 7.Document successful patterns for reuse
Troubleshooting
- ⚠MCP server not loading: Check config syntax, verify installation
- ⚠Connection errors: Check network, firewall, credentials
- ⚠Feature not working: Read server docs, check required parameters
- ⚠Performance issues: Monitor resource usage, check for network latency
- ⚠Conflicts with other servers: Check port assignments, namespace collisions
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Read server documentation thoroughly before setup
- +Start with simple use cases to validate functionality
- +Test in non-production environment first
- +Monitor resource usage and performance
- +Keep servers updated for bug fixes and new features
- +Document configuration for team members
- +Use environment variables for sensitive configuration
✗ Don't
- −Don't grant overly permissive access to MCP servers
- −Don't skip reading security considerations in docs
- −Don't expose sensitive data without proper controls
- −Don't run untrusted MCP servers without code review
- −Don't ignore error messages—investigate root cause
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Combine multiple MCP servers for powerful workflows
- ★Create custom MCP servers for your specific needs
- ★Share successful configurations with team
- ★Use MCP inspector for debugging
- ★Join MCP community for tips and troubleshooting
Technical Details▌
Architecture
Model Context Protocol standardizes how AI hosts (Claude, Cursor) communicate with external tools and data sources through server implementations.
Protocols
- Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- JSON-RPC 2.0
- stdio or HTTP transport
Compatibility
- Claude Desktop
- Cursor IDE
- Custom MCP clients
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when you need Claude to access external data, execute actions, or integrate with tools. Best for extending AI capabilities beyond conversation.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when native integrations exist (use official APIs directly), for real-time critical systems, or when security/compliance requires zero external dependencies.
Integration▌
- →Tool composition: Chain multiple MCP tools in workflows
- →Context augmentation: Provide AI with relevant external data
- →Action delegation: Let AI execute tasks on external systems
- →Bidirectional sync: Keep AI context and external systems in sync
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
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Ratings
4.7★★★★★70 reviews- ★★★★★Charlotte Huang· Dec 20, 2024
Strong directory entry: Stability AI surfaces stars and publisher context so we could sanity-check maintenance before adopting.
- ★★★★★Alexander Rahman· Dec 16, 2024
I recommend Stability AI for teams standardizing on MCP; the explainx.ai page compares cleanly with sibling servers.
- ★★★★★Luis Desai· Dec 12, 2024
Stability AI reduced integration guesswork — categories and install configs on the listing matched the upstream repo.
- ★★★★★Noah Gonzalez· Dec 12, 2024
We wired Stability AI into a staging workspace; the listing’s GitHub and npm pointers saved time versus hunting across READMEs.
- ★★★★★Noah Ramirez· Dec 4, 2024
Stability AI has been reliable for tool-calling workflows; the MCP profile page is a good permalink for internal docs.
- ★★★★★Rahul Santra· Nov 19, 2024
We evaluated Stability AI against two servers with overlapping tools; this profile had the clearer scope statement.
- ★★★★★Liam Martinez· Nov 15, 2024
Stability AI has been reliable for tool-calling workflows; the MCP profile page is a good permalink for internal docs.
- ★★★★★Isabella Malhotra· Nov 11, 2024
We evaluated Stability AI against two servers with overlapping tools; this profile had the clearer scope statement.
- ★★★★★Charlotte Zhang· Nov 11, 2024
I recommend Stability AI for teams standardizing on MCP; the explainx.ai page compares cleanly with sibling servers.
- ★★★★★Alexander Bhatia· Nov 7, 2024
Strong directory entry: Stability AI surfaces stars and publisher context so we could sanity-check maintenance before adopting.
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