--- title: "Set Up CE.SDK with Cursor - IMG.LY" description: "Turn Cursor into a CE.SDK expert: install the Agent Skills, connect the live-docs MCP server, and build an ad designer or photo editor from one prompt." url: "https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/cursor/" type: "page" --- > This is the markdown version of [Set Up CE.SDK with Cursor - IMG.LY](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/cursor/). 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). --- # Cursor: Set up CE.SDK with Cursor Cursor is an AI code editor. Ten minutes of setup turns it into a CE.SDK expert that takes you from an idea like "an ad designer with background removal" to a working editor running in your browser. ## Before you start You don't need to be a developer to follow this guide. You need two things on your machine. - [Cursor](https://cursor.com) installed and signed in. - [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) 20 or newer. It provides the `npx` command used below and runs the editor you build. ## From setup to working editor in four steps ### Step 01: Install the CE.SDK skills Open a terminal in your project folder (in Cursor: Terminal, then New Terminal) and run one command. It installs the CE.SDK Agent Skills into `.agents/skills/` beside your project: bundled CE.SDK docs plus starter kits for 10 web frameworks. Run it in the folder you want to build in, or add `-g` to install the skills once for every project on your machine. **Install the skills for Cursor** ```bash npx skills add imgly/agent-skills -a cursor ``` ### Step 02: Connect the live docs The MCP server gives Cursor real-time search over the current CE.SDK documentation, so answers stay accurate between releases. Create a file named `mcp.json` inside a `.cursor` folder at your project root (or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` to enable it everywhere), paste this in, and reload Cursor. If you would rather not touch a config file, Cursor has a UI for it: Settings, then Tools & Integrations, then Add Custom MCP. **.cursor/mcp.json** ```json { "mcpServers": { "imgly_docs": { "url": "https://mcp.img.ly/mcp" } } } ``` ### Step 03: Verify it works Ask a docs question in Cursor's chat. If the answer cites CE.SDK docs, the skills are active. Cursor picks a skill from your plain-language request on its own; to call one directly, type `/` and pick it by name, such as `/docs-react`. For the MCP server, open Cursor's settings and confirm `imgly_docs` shows as connected. **Check the install** ```text Using the CE.SDK docs, how do I get started with React? ``` ### Step 04: Describe what you want to build Open Cursor's chat and paste a product idea. Cursor scaffolds the project, installs CE.SDK, wires up the features, and prints the command to run it (usually `npm run dev`). Run it and your editor opens in the browser. **Your first build prompt** ```text Build an ad designer web app with CE.SDK: pull stock photos from Unsplash, one-click background removal for product shots, AI image generation for campaign variants, and export finished ads as PNG and print-ready PDF. ``` ## What you can do Three skills turn Cursor into a CE.SDK specialist. Ask in plain language and Cursor picks the right one, or call it by name from the `/` picker. ### Build a feature **`build`** sets up a CE.SDK Web project and implements the features you ask for. Describe the outcome and Cursor scaffolds and wires it up. ### Understand a concept **`explain`** breaks down how CE.SDK works and how the pieces fit together, adapted to your framework and level. ### Look up the docs **`docs-[framework]`** pulls reference guides and API docs into your editor across 10 frameworks, including React, Next.js, and Node.js. ## Example prompts Copy a starting point into Cursor's chat. Start a product, extend it feature by feature, or ask how something works before you commit to it. **Scaffold an editor** ```text Build a social media studio with CE.SDK: Instagram post and story presets, a template gallery for our campaigns, and MP4 export for animated posts. Build a CE.SDK photo book creator with multi-page layouts, drag-and-drop photo placeholders, and print-ready PDF export. Build a CE.SDK meme generator with a template gallery, text overlays with outline styles, and one-click PNG sharing. ``` **Extend it** ```text Add background removal so users can cut out product photos. Add AI image generation so users can create visuals from a text prompt. Lock our brand fonts and colors so users can only edit the text. ``` **Understand it** ```text Explain what CE.SDK gives me out of the box versus what I configure. Explain how CE.SDK templates and placeholders work for non-design users. ``` ## Tips Get better results from the first prompt. - Prompt with outcomes, not implementation: "users upload a photo and get a framed print preview" beats "integrate the export API". - Use `.cursor/mcp.json` at the project root to share the MCP server with your team, or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` for every project. - Reload Cursor after editing `mcp.json`, and after installing the skills. - Skills fire from a plain-language request. To call one directly, type `/` and pick it by name, such as `/build`. - Run skills and MCP together: skills for scaffolding, the MCP server for live docs search. ## 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 Claude Desktop](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents/claude-desktop.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) ## Cursor: Ship a working editor Install the skills, paste a prompt, and Cursor scaffolds a CE.SDK project you can run. [Read the Agent Skills docs](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/js/get-started/agent-skills-f7g8h9.md#setup-instructions) [Back to all agents](https://img.ly/capabilities/agents.md) ## Cursor FAQs ### Cursor **Q: Do I need to know how to code?** A: No. Describe the product you want in plain language and Cursor scaffolds the project and tells you how to run it. You review the result in the browser and keep prompting until it matches your vision. **Q: Do I need a license key or an account?** A: Not for the setup. The skills and the MCP server are free and need no API key, and the project Cursor scaffolds runs locally without a license key. Licensing only comes in when you deploy what you built. **Q: Agent Skills or MCP server?** A: Both, ideally. Agent Skills bundle the docs and starter kits offline so Cursor can scaffold autonomously. The MCP server adds real-time documentation search on top, so answers stay current between releases. **Q: The MCP server isn't connecting.** A: Check the path and JSON of \`.cursor/mcp.json\` or \`~/.cursor/mcp.json\`, then reload Cursor so it picks up the server. --- ## 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.