Cursor

Cursor supports two connection methods: Skills (ZIP install) and MCP (via the Cursor MCP config). Both drive the same gen-ai CLI.

Prerequisites

1. Install the gen-ai CLI — see Installation.
2. Run gen-ai login (one-time browser OAuth).
3. Verify: gen-ai --version and gen-ai credits.

Method 1: Skills (recommended)

Install

1. Download the skill ZIP from picsart.com/gen-ai-skills.
2. In Cursor, open Settings and go to the rules or skills directory.
3. Place the unzipped skill folder there.
4. Restart Cursor.

Alternatively, install via npx if your Cursor version supports it:

npx skills add PicsArt/gen-ai-skills

Use it

Ask in plain English in any Cursor conversation or agent panel:

• "Generate a product shot on a white background using Recraft V4."
• "Create a 9:16 teaser video from this image with Wan 2.7."
• "Generate 4 banner variants for this campaign brief in 16:9."

Cursor picks the skill, runs the gen-ai command, and returns the result.

Method 2: MCP

MCP gives Cursor direct access to every Picsart tool, including pricing, validation, and Drive operations.

Configure

Add the following to your Cursor MCP config file. In Cursor, go to Settings and find the MCP servers configuration (usually stored at ~/.cursor/mcp.json or in your project at .cursor/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "picsart-gen-ai": {
      "command": "gen-ai-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Save the file and restart Cursor.

Verify the connection

In Cursor's agent panel, ask:

"List available Picsart image models."

Cursor should call picsart_list_models and return results. If it does not, see Troubleshooting.

Use it

• "Quote the cost of a Seedance 2.0 video at 1080p, 8 seconds."
• "Generate a hero image with Flux 2 Pro and save it to Drive."
• "Remove the background from ./shot.jpg and return the URL."

See the MCP Quickstart for the full tool list.

Troubleshooting

Cursor says it cannot find gen-ai.

The CLI is not on Cursor's PATH. Run which gen-ai in a terminal to get the full path, then update the MCP config to use the absolute path:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "picsart-gen-ai": {
      "command": "/Users/you/.local/bin/gen-ai-mcp"
    }
  }
}

The MCP server is listed in settings but tools do not appear.

Restart Cursor. The tool list is loaded at startup.

Generation fails with "unauthorized".

Run gen-ai login in a terminal and restart Cursor.

FAQ

Does Cursor's Skills support work the same way as Claude Code's?

The underlying skill format is the same. The install location and how you invoke it may differ slightly by Cursor version — check Cursor's current skill/rules documentation for the exact directory path.

Can I use Skills and MCP at the same time in Cursor?

Yes. They do not conflict. The skill gives Cursor pre-built generation instructions; MCP gives it direct tool access.

Do I need the Cursor Pro plan to use MCP?

MCP support is available in Cursor's agent mode. Check Cursor's plan details for any tier restrictions on agent use.

Start creating

The Picsart MCP server is now connected. Visit the documentation for examples, available models, and prompt ideas.

Ready to generate?

View documentation