About mcp-nano-banana
mcp-nano-banana exposes Google Gemini Nano Banana image generation to coding assistants and other MCP clients. It supports text-based creation, image editing and compositing, with controls for resolution, aspect ratio and output format.
Key features
- 01Generate images from text
- 02Edit existing images with instructions
- 03Combine up to 14 reference images
- 04Set resolution, aspect ratio and format
- 05Create complete favicon packages
- 06Automatically fall back to Flash on rate limits
Use cases
- 01Create illustrations or wallpapers for projects
- 02Change backgrounds or content in photos
- 03Combine people and product reference images
- 04Generate favicon files for a website
MCP support
As an MCP server, it provides clients with tools for image generation, editing, compositing and favicon creation. Requests use the Google Gemini API.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
npx -y mcp-nano-bananaGEMINI_API_KEYSecretGoogle Gemini API key used for image generation requests.Local servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your client’s docs.
Tools
2Saved tool list · updated 2w ago
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| model | enum | No | Model to use: gemini-2.5-flash-image (fast) or gemini-3-pro-image-preview (high quality, default)gemini-2.5-flash-image | gemini-3-pro-image-preview |
| prompt | string | Yes | Text description of the image to generate or instructions for editing/combining reference images |
| imagePaths | array | No | Optional array of file paths to reference images (up to 14). Supports png, jpg, jpeg, webp, gif. |
| outputPath | string | No | File path to save the generated image. If not provided, image data is returned inline. |
| resolution | enum | No | Resolution of the generated image. 512 only on gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview. Nano Banana Pro supports 1K, 2K, 4K.512 | 1K | 2K | 4K |
| aspectRatio | enum | No | Aspect ratio of the generated image. Additional ratios (1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1) available on gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview.1:1 | 16:9 | 9:16 | 4:3 | 3:4 | 2:3 | 3:2 | 4:5 | 5:4 | 21:9 | 1:4 | 4:1 | 1:8 | 8:1 |
| outputFormat | enum | No | Output image formatpng | jpeg | webp |
Details
From the project READMEmcp-nano-banana
MCP server for AI-powered image generation using Google Gemini Nano Banana models. Generate, edit, and combine images from text prompts — directly from your AI coding assistant.
Features
- Text-to-image generation — Create images from natural language descriptions
- Image editing — Upload images and modify them with text instructions
- Multi-image combination — Mix up to 14 reference images into one composite
- Resolution control — Generate at 512px, 1K, 2K, or 4K resolution
- 13+ aspect ratios — From square (1:1) to ultra-wide (21:9) and tall (1:8)
- Auto-fallback — Pro model falls back to Flash on rate limits (429/403/402)
- File output — Save to specific paths or return inline base64
- Favicon generation — Generate complete favicon packages with one command
- Multi-format output — PNG, JPEG, and WebP support
Quick Start
Prerequisites
- Get a Gemini API key from Google AI Studio
- Enable billing on your Google Cloud project — image generation requires a paid tier (~$0.04-0.05/image for NB2 at standard resolution)
Installation
npm install -g mcp-nano-banana
Set your API key:
export GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key
For MCP Registry publication metadata, the registry name is io.github.codeFi/mcp-nano-banana.
MCP Configuration
Codex
codex mcp add nano-banana --env GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key -- npx -y mcp-nano-banana@latest
Or add manually to ~/.codex/config.toml:
[mcp_servers.nano-banana]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "mcp-nano-banana@latest"]
[mcp_servers.nano-banana.env]
GEMINI_API_KEY = "your-api-key"
Qwen Code
Add to ~/.qwen/settings.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"nano-banana": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-nano-banana@latest"],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
}
}
}
}
Claude Code
claude mcp add nano-banana -e GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key -- npx -y mcp-nano-banana@latest
Or add manually to ~/.claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"nano-banana": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-nano-banana@latest"],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
}
}
}
}
Other MCP Clients
For CLIs and desktop clients that use the standard mcpServers JSON format, register:
{
"mcpServers": {
"nano-banana": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-nano-banana@latest"],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
}
}
}
}
Local / Development Build
git clone https://github.com/codeFi/mcp-nano-banana.git
cd mcp-nano-banana
npm install
npm run build
Then register with your MCP client:
{
"mcpServers": {
"nano-banana": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/mcp-nano-banana/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"GEMINI_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
}
}
}
}
Models
| Model | MCP Name | Description | Max Ref Images |
|---|---|---|---|
gemini-3-pro-image-preview | Nano Banana Pro | High quality, thinking mode, professional assets | 6 object + 5 character |
gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview | Nano Banana 2 | Fast, high-efficiency, 1:4/4:1/1:8/8:1 ratios | 10 object + 4 character |
gemini-2.5-flash-image | Nano Banana | Fastest, optimized for high-volume tasks | - |
The server defaults to Nano Banana Pro for best quality and automatically falls back to Flash on rate limits.
Available Parameters
Resolution
| Value | Approx. Pixels | Supported Models |
|---|---|---|
"512" | ~512px | Nano Banana 2 only |
"1K" | ~1024px | All models |
"2K" | ~2048px | All models |
"4K" | ~4096px | All models |
Default: "1K"
Aspect Ratio
| Value | Dimensions at 1K | Common Use Case |
|---|---|---|
1:1 | 1024×1024 | Social posts, icons |
16:9 | 1344×768 | Headers, presentations |
9:16 | 768×1344 | Stories, mobile |
4:3 | 1152×896 | Desktop, photos |
3:4 | 896×1152 | Portraits |
2:3 | ~896×1344 | Print, magazines |
3:2 | ~1344×896 | Photos |
4:5 | ~896×1120 | Instagram posts |
5:4 | ~1120×896 | Instagram landscape |
21:9 | ~2048×878 | Ultra-wide banners |
1:4 | ~512×2048 | Nano Banana 2 only — tall strips |
4:1 | ~2048×512 | Nano Banana 2 only — wide strips |
1:8 | ~512×4096 | Nano Banana 2 only — extra tall |
8:1 | ~4096×512 | Nano Banana 2 only — extra wide |
Tools
generate_image
Generate or edit images from text prompts.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
prompt | string | ✅ Yes | — | Text description or editing instructions |
imagePaths | string[] | No | — | Reference image paths on disk (up to 14) |
model | string | No | gemini-3-pro-image-preview | Model to use |
aspectRatio | string | No | 1:1 | See table above for all options |
resolution | string | No | 1K | 512, 1K, 2K, or 4K |
outputFormat | string | No | png | png, jpeg, webp |
outputPath | string | No | — | Save image to this file path |
Examples
Generate from text:
{
"prompt": "A sunset over mountains with dramatic lighting",
"aspectRatio": "16:9",
"resolution": "2K",
"outputPath": "/Users/currentUser/Desktop/sunset.png"
}
Edit an existing image:
{
"prompt": "Change the background to a coffee shop interior",
"imagePaths": ["/Users/currentUser/photo.jpg"],
"outputPath": "/Users/currentUser/edited.png"
}
Combine multiple images:
{
"prompt": "Put these glasses on this person's face",
"imagePaths": ["/path/to/face.jpg", "/path/to/glasses.jpg"],
"outputPath": "/path/to/result.png"
}
High-res wallpaper:
{
"prompt": "A futuristic cityscape at night with neon lights and rain",
"aspectRatio": "16:9",
"resolution": "4K",
"outputPath": "/path/to/wallpaper.png"
}
generate_favicons
Generate a complete favicon package from a prompt or existing image.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
prompt | string | No* | — | Icon description (required if imagePath not set) |
imagePath | string | No* | — | Path to existing master icon image |
model | string | No | gemini-3-pro-image-preview | Model for prompt generation |
outputDir | string | No | — | Directory for individual favicon files |
outputPath | string | No | — | Save ZIP package to this path |
returnZipBase64 | boolean | No | false | Return ZIP as base64 text |
appName | string | No | My App | Manifest name |
shortName | string | No | App | Manifest short_name |
themeColor | string | No | #ffffff | Manifest theme color |
backgroundColor | string | No | #ffffff | Manifest background color |
includeReadme | boolean | No | true | Include README.md in package |
Example
{
"prompt": "A minimalist banana icon with a soft gradient",
"outputDir": "/path/to/favicon",
"outputPath": "/path/to/favicon.zip",
"appName": "MyBrand",
"shortName": "Brand",
"themeColor": "#1a1a2e",
"backgroundColor": "#ffffff"
}
Generated files:
favicon.ico— Multi-size icon (16/32/48px)favicon-16x16.png— Browser tabsfavicon-32x32.png— Higher-res tabsapple-touch-icon.png— iOS home screenandroid-chrome-192x192.png— Androidandroid-chrome-512x512.png— Android HDsite.webmanifest— PWA manifest
HTML snippet (included in response):
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest">
Pricing
Image generation requires a paid Google AI Studio account. Approximate costs:
| Model | 1K | 2K | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2 | ~$0.04 | ~$0.08 | ~$0.15 |
| Nano Banana Pro | ~$0.06 | ~$0.13 | ~$0.24 |
You only pay for what you generate — no monthly minimum.
Supported Image Formats
Input (reference images): png, jpg, jpeg, webp, gif
Output: png, jpeg, webp
Development
# Build TypeScript
npm run build
# Watch mode
npm run dev
# Run tests
npm test
# Run the server directly
node dist/index.js
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
GEMINI_API_KEY is not set | Export the env var or add it to your MCP config |
429 Too Many Requests | Server auto-falls back to Flash model. Add billing to your account. |
403/402 Quota exceeded | Enable billing at Google Cloud Console |
503 Unavailable | High demand — retry in a moment. Common with 4K requests. |
| Image not updating after edit | Make sure you rebuilt the TypeScript (npm run build) |
imagePaths not found | Use absolute paths. Relative paths may not resolve correctly. |
Architecture
AI Assistant (MCP Client)
│ (MCP Protocol over stdio)
▼
mcp-nano-banana Server
│ (HTTPS POST)
▼
Google Gemini API
│
▼
Generated Image → saved to outputPath (or returned inline base64)
License
Author
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.