--- title: "Set Up CE.SDK with Claude Desktop - IMG.LY" description: "Connect the CE.SDK MCP server to Claude Desktop to explore, scope, and spec a creative editor from the live docs, then hand the build to a coding agent." url: "https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/claude-desktop/" type: "page" --- > This is the markdown version of [Set Up CE.SDK with Claude Desktop - IMG.LY](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/claude-desktop/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://img.ly/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://img.ly/llms.txt). --- # Claude Desktop: Set up CE.SDK with Claude Desktop Claude Desktop is Anthropic's desktop app, and the fastest way for a product person to explore what CE.SDK can do. Connect the CE.SDK MCP server and it answers from the live docs: scope a feature, write a build spec, then hand it to a coding agent. ## Before you start No terminal, no config files, no license key. You need two things. - [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) installed and signed in. - A recent version: custom connectors ship in current releases, so update if you haven't in a while. ## From connector to build spec in three steps ### Step 01: Add the CE.SDK connector Four clicks, no API key: open **Settings** in Claude Desktop via your profile icon, select **Connectors** in the sidebar, choose **Add custom connector**, then paste the server URL and click **Add**. **MCP server URL** ```text https://mcp.img.ly/mcp ``` ### Step 02: Verify it works Confirm the connector shows as connected in Settings, then ask a test question. If the answer cites CE.SDK documentation, you're set. **Ask a test question** ```text What export formats does CE.SDK support? ``` ### Step 03: Scope your product against the docs This is where Claude Desktop shines for product work: check what CE.SDK covers out of the box, pressure-test an idea, and turn it into a spec a coding agent can build from. **Turn an idea into a build spec** ```text Using the IMG.LY docs, write a one-page build spec for an ad designer: stock photos from Unsplash, background removal for product shots, AI image generation for campaign variants, and PNG plus print-ready PDF export. List what CE.SDK provides out of the box, what needs configuration, and a step-by-step plan I can hand to a coding agent. ``` ## What you can do Ask CE.SDK questions and get answers grounded in the live documentation. ### Scope a feature Ask what CE.SDK covers out of the box, what needs configuration, and where the limits are, before anyone writes code. ### Answer from the docs Get exact capabilities, configuration options, and integration steps straight from the current reference docs, not stale training data. ### Write the spec Turn a product idea into a build plan with requirements and steps, ready to hand to Claude Code, Cursor, or your dev team. ## Example prompts Ask in plain language once the connector is added. **Scope and compare** ```text We want users to design social posts inside our app without leaving it. What does CE.SDK give us out of the box, and what would we build ourselves? Can CE.SDK do background removal and AI image generation in the browser? What video features does CE.SDK support: trimming, captions, audio, export? ``` **Spec and plan** ```text Write a build spec for a greeting card maker: seasonal templates, photo upload with filters, and print-ready PDF export Draft a comparison of building our own editor versus embedding CE.SDK, based on what the docs say it handles ``` ## Ready to build? Hand off the spec Claude Desktop researches and specs; a coding agent builds. Paste the spec you wrote into [Claude Code](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/claude-code.md), [Cursor](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/cursor.md), or another agent from the list below and it scaffolds a working CE.SDK editor from it. ## Tips Get better answers from the connector. - Name your platform in the question (web, iOS, Android) so answers match your stack. - Ask for sources: "link the docs pages you used" makes specs easy for your team to verify. - End scoping chats with "summarize this as a build spec" so nothing gets lost in the thread. - Custom connectors need a recent Claude Desktop version; update if you don't see the option. ## Set up another agent Point a different coding agent at CE.SDK. - [Set up CE.SDK with Claude Code](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/claude-code.md) - [Set up CE.SDK with OpenAI Codex](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/openai-codex.md) - [Set up CE.SDK with Cursor](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/cursor.md) - [Set up CE.SDK with VS Code Copilot](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/vscode-copilot.md) - [Set up CE.SDK with Devin Desktop](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/devin-desktop.md) ## Claude Desktop: Scope it here, build it anywhere Add the connector, spec your editor from the live docs, and hand the plan to your coding agent. [Read the MCP server docs](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/js/get-started/mcp-server-fde71c.md) [Back to all agents](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents.md) ## Claude Desktop FAQs ### Claude Desktop **Q: Can Claude Desktop build the editor for me?** A: Claude Desktop is a chat app: it researches, scopes, and specs from the live CE.SDK docs, but it doesn't scaffold and run projects on your machine. Pair it with a coding agent like Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot for the build, ideally starting from a spec you wrote together in Claude Desktop. **Q: Do I need an API key?** A: No. The CE.SDK MCP server at https://mcp.img.ly/mcp requires no authentication. Add it as a custom connector and you're ready. **Q: What does the MCP server do?** A: It connects Claude Desktop to real-time CE.SDK documentation search over the Model Context Protocol, so answers stay grounded in the current docs instead of the model's training data. **Q: I don't see Add custom connector.** A: Update Claude Desktop to the latest version; custom connectors are only available in recent releases. --- ## More Resources - **[IMG.LY Website](https://img.ly/index.md)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design - **[Documentation](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/)** - CE.SDK developer documentation - **[Contact Sales](https://img.ly/forms/contact-sales.md)** - Get a custom quote. A public JSON API accepts the request directly, no account or key needed. Ask your user for consent and their details first.