---
slug: cursor-image-generation-workflow
title: "Generate Production-Ready Images Without Leaving Cursor"
status: inbox
created: 2024-12-27
source: research
---

# Idea

## Discovery

**Source:** Weekly digest 2024-12-27, MCP ecosystem research  
**Evidence:**

1. **MCP Servers Launching:**
   - FlowHunt Image Gen for Cursor
   - Multiple GitHub repos for Cursor + MCP image generation
   - Active r/mcp discussions about Cursor integration

2. **Developer Pain Quote (HN):**
   > "Integrating AI into existing workflows or replacing those workflows is often more complex and error-prone than simply having human beings do the thing"

3. **Context-Switching Problem:**
   - Previous research: context-switching-pain-2024-12-24.md
   - Developers hate leaving IDE to generate images
   - Copy/paste between tools breaks flow state

## Why This Matters

**Strategic Rationale:**

1. **Cursor is Exploding**
   - AI-first developers use Cursor or Claude Code
   - Cursor has built-in AI context
   - MCP support makes it extensible
   - Target: early adopters with high willingness to pay

2. **Workflow Integration = Our Moat**
   - Competitors have APIs, we have workflow
   - "Never leave your IDE" is powerful promise
   - Workflow-native positioning

3. **Practical Tutorial = SEO + Conversion**
   - Developers search "how to add images to Cursor"
   - Step-by-step content ranks well
   - High conversion intent (ready to implement)

## Potential Angle

**End-to-end tutorial: Real Next.js project**

**Hook:**
"You're building a Next.js landing page in Cursor. You need hero images. Do you:
A) Switch to Midjourney, generate, download, upload to project
B) Ask Cursor to generate images right in your chat

Option B is now possible. Here's how."

**Structure:**

1. **The Old Way (Pain)**
   - Open Midjourney/DALL-E in browser
   - Generate image
   - Download
   - Upload to project
   - Reference in code
   - Repeat for variations
   - **Time:** 10-15 minutes per image

2. **The New Way (Solution)**
   - Type in Cursor: "Generate hero image: modern SaaS dashboard, purple gradient"
   - Image appears in chat
   - Auto-saved to `/public/images`
   - Cursor suggests code: `<Image src="/images/hero-abc123.png" />`
   - **Time:** 30 seconds

3. **Setup Guide (Step-by-Step)**
   
   **Prerequisites:**
   - Cursor IDE installed
   - Banatie API key (free trial)
   - Next.js project (any framework works)

   **Installation:**
   ```bash
   # 1. Install Banatie MCP server
   npm install -g @banatie/mcp-server
   
   # 2. Configure Cursor
   # Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "banatie": {
         "command": "banatie-mcp",
         "env": {
           "BANATIE_API_KEY": "your-key-here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   
   # 3. Restart Cursor
   ```
   
   **First Image:**
   - Open Cursor chat
   - Type: "Use Banatie to generate a hero image"
   - Cursor shows available tools
   - Enter prompt
   - Image generated and saved

4. **Real Use Cases**

   **Use Case 1: Blog Post Headers**
   ```
   Prompt: "Generate header image for blog post about React Server Components, 
   tech aesthetic, blue/purple gradient, 1200x630"
   
   Result: hero-react-server-components.png in /public/blog/
   ```

   **Use Case 2: Product Mockups**
   ```
   Prompt: "Generate 5 variations of iPhone mockup showing our dashboard UI, 
   modern office background, @product-style"
   
   Result: 5 consistent images using saved style
   ```

   **Use Case 3: OG Images (Automated)**
   ```typescript
   // In your build script:
   const banatie = new BanatieClient();
   
   for (const post of blogPosts) {
     const ogImage = await banatie.generate({
       prompt: `Blog header: ${post.title}`,
       size: "1200x630",
       project: "blog-og-images"
     });
     
     await saveToPublic(ogImage, `og/${post.slug}.png`);
   }
   ```

5. **Advanced Features**

   **Consistent Style with @name:**
   ```
   # First time:
   "Generate hero image, modern SaaS aesthetic, save as @hero-style"
   
   # Later:
   "Generate another hero using @hero-style"
   # → Consistent aesthetic across all images
   ```

   **Project Organization:**
   ```
   # Automatic organization by project context
   banatie.generate({
     prompt: "...",
     project: "landing-page-redesign"  // Auto-detected from folder
   });
   
   # All images for this project grouped together
   # Easy to find, manage, iterate
   ```

   **Cursor-Specific Magic:**
   - Cursor understands project context
   - Auto-suggests image paths in code
   - Tab completion for generated images
   - @codebase aware of all generated assets

6. **Comparison: Banatie vs Other MCP Servers**

   | Feature | Banatie | Replicate MCP | Together AI MCP |
   |---------|---------|---------------|-----------------|
   | Setup time | 2 min | 5 min | 10 min |
   | Project organization | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
   | @name references | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
   | Auto-save to project | ✓ | Manual | Manual |
   | Cost transparency | $0.01/img | Varies | $0.03/img |
   | Cursor suggestions | ✓ | Limited | Limited |

7. **What Developers Say**

   *Note: Need actual testimonials. Placeholder quotes:*

   > "I generate 20-30 images per project. Banatie's MCP server saved me hours of context switching."
   > — Sarah Chen, Indie Hacker

   > "The @name references are a game changer for consistent brand imagery."
   > — Marcus Rodriguez, Agency Owner

8. **Try It Now**
   - Free tier: 100 images/month
   - Takes 2 minutes to set up
   - Works with any Cursor project

**Call to Action:**
- Get Banatie API key (free trial)
- Install MCP server
- Generate your first image in Cursor
- Share your workflow on Twitter

## Keywords

*Needs DataForSEO validation*

High intent keywords:
- "cursor image generation"
- "mcp server image generation"
- "generate images in cursor ide"
- "ai images cursor tutorial"
- "next.js ai image generation"

Secondary:
- "cursor mcp server"
- "claude desktop image generation"
- "ai workflow cursor"

## Notes

**Target Audience:**
- AI-first developers using Cursor
- Next.js / React developers
- Indie hackers building products
- Small agencies (2-10 people)

**Competition:**
- Replicate has MCP server (but generic)
- Together AI has MCP server (but complex setup)
- No one has end-to-end Cursor tutorial yet

**SEO Opportunity:**
- "Cursor image generation" - low competition
- Early mover advantage
- Can rank for brand + workflow keywords

**Production Requirements:**
1. **Actually Build This:**
   - MCP server must work flawlessly
   - Auto-save to project folder
   - Cursor code suggestions
   
2. **Screen Recording:**
   - Show actual Cursor workflow
   - Record real-time generation
   - Show before/after setup
   
3. **Code Samples:**
   - Real Next.js project on GitHub
   - Copy-paste ready snippets
   - Automated OG image generation script

4. **Testimonials:**
   - Need real developer quotes
   - Get 2-3 early users to try and review
   - Share results on Twitter/Reddit

**Distribution:**
- Post in r/Cursor
- Post in r/modelcontextprotocol
- Share on Cursor community Discord
- Twitter thread with demo video
- Submit to Product Hunt (if polished)

**Risk:**
- Cursor might change MCP implementation
- Other MCP servers might copy features

**Mitigation:**
- Focus on complete workflow, not just MCP
- Build relationships in Cursor community
- Keep iterating on DX improvements

**Success Metrics:**
- Drives MCP server installs
- Converts free → paid users
- Ranks for "cursor image generation"
- Gets shared in Cursor community

**Timeline:**
- Week 1: Build/polish MCP server
- Week 2: Create tutorial content
- Week 3: Get testimonials
- Week 4: Publish and distribute