Developer guide

MCP Server for
image watermarking

Q: What is the Model Context Protocol?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard created by Anthropic that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external tools and services. Instead of copying data back and forth, MCP creates a direct bridge between your AI agent and the tools it needs. Think of it as a universal plug that lets AI "use" software the same way you would.

Q: What the Markly MCP Server does

The Markly MCP server exposes four tools that Claude can call on your behalf. Each tool maps to a core Markly API endpoint, but you never have to write API calls yourself - just ask Claude in plain English.

Q: Free tier vs. credit packs

The Markly MCP server works immediately without payment. Anonymous and free-tier API keys have full access to all four tools. The only difference is branding:

Connect Claude or any MCP-compatible AI agent to Markly and watermark images using natural language. Add text, overlay logos, batch process entire folders - just describe what you need.

Reading time: 4 min Updated on 4 March 2026

What is the Model Context Protocol?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard created by Anthropic that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external tools and services. Instead of copying data back and forth, MCP creates a direct bridge between your AI agent and the tools it needs. Think of it as a universal plug that lets AI "use" software the same way you would.

MCP works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and any compatible AI client. When you add an MCP server to your configuration, Claude gains new capabilities - in this case, the ability to watermark your images on demand. The protocol handles authentication, data transfer, and error handling automatically.

What the Markly MCP Server does

The Markly MCP server exposes four tools that Claude can call on your behalf. Each tool maps to a core Markly API endpoint, but you never have to write API calls yourself - just ask Claude in plain English.

Available tools:

Text Watermark - Add custom text to any image. Control font size, opacity, position, color, rotation, and tiling. Supports JPEG, PNG, and WebP.
Logo Watermark - Overlay a logo image (PNG with transparency recommended) onto your photos. Adjust size, position, opacity, and tiling.
Batch Processing - Watermark multiple images at once with identical settings. Upload a set of files, apply your watermark configuration, and download the results as a ZIP.
Usage Check - See how many API credits you have remaining, your current plan, and usage history.

All processing happens on the Markly server - your images are watermarked and returned immediately. Files are deleted from the server after processing, never stored permanently.

Setup: Claude Desktop & Claude Code

Setting up the MCP server takes less than a minute. You need a Markly API key (get one free at /developers) and then add the server to your Claude configuration.

Claude Desktop configuration:

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "markly": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@anthropic/mcp-remote", "https://www.markly.cloud/mcp/sse"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code configuration:

Run this command in your terminal:

claude mcp add markly -- npx -y @anthropic/mcp-remote https://www.markly.cloud/mcp/sse --header "Authorization: Bearer your-api-key-here"

After adding the configuration, restart Claude and the Markly tools will appear automatically. You can verify the connection by asking Claude "What Markly tools do you have?".

Usage examples: natural language prompts

Once connected, you simply talk to Claude and describe what you want. No API syntax, no parameters to memorize. Here are some prompts you can try:

Example prompts:

"Add my copyright to this photo" - Claude will ask for your text preference and apply a text watermark with sensible defaults.
"Watermark all the images in /photos with my logo.png, bottom-right, 20% opacity" - Batch logo watermark with specific placement.
"Put a tiled watermark saying DRAFT across this image at 45 degrees" - Repeating diagonal text pattern, commonly used for proof sheets.
"How many credits do I have left?" - Quick usage check without leaving your conversation.

Claude understands context, so you can refine results iteratively. After seeing the first watermark, say "make the text smaller" or "move it to the top-left" and Claude will re-process with adjusted parameters.

Free tier vs. credit packs

The Markly MCP server works immediately without payment. Anonymous and free-tier API keys have full access to all four tools. The only difference is branding:

Plan comparison:

Free tier - Unlimited watermark operations. A small "markly.cloud" mention is added to processed images. Perfect for personal projects and testing.
Credit packs - Purchase credits to remove the Markly branding from output images. Credits never expire. Ideal for professional and commercial use.

Both tiers get the same processing quality, the same tool access, and the same API speed. No daily limits, no throttling based on plan. Credits are consumed only when you want branding-free output.

Get your free API key

AI-powered watermarking

Combine the Markly MCP server with Copyright01 for complete image protection - watermark and certify in one workflow.

◆ Markly

Connect Claude to Markly and watermark images with natural language. Free to use, no setup complexity.

Try it now

Copyright01

After watermarking, certify your originals with a timestamped copyright certificate for legal proof.

Start watermarking with Claude

Get your free API key and connect in under a minute.

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