Napkin Ai MCP Server

MCP server for Napkin AI visual generation API with multi-storage support

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the Napkin Ai MCP MCP server?

Connect Napkin Ai MCP to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. MCP server for Napkin AI visual generation API with multi-storage support. The napkin ai mcp mcp server is what makes that connection.

What the server does

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for generating infographics and visuals using the Napkin AI API. This server enables AI assistants like Claude to generate professional visuals from text content.

  • Visual Generation — Generate SVG, PNG, or PPT visuals from text content
  • Multiple Visual Types — Mindmaps, flowcharts, timelines, comparisons, and more (see gallery)
  • Async Handling — Automatic polling for Napkin AI's async generation
  • Multi-Storage Support — Save generated visuals to:
  • Local filesystem
  • Amazon S3 (or S3-compatible services)

Installation

The server ships on npm as napkin-ai-mcp, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • generate_visual — Submit a visual generation request (async)
  • check_status — Check the status of a generation request
  • download_visual — Download a generated visual as base64
  • generate_and_wait — Generate and wait for completion
  • generate_and_save — Generate and save to configured storage
  • list_styles — Get information about available styles
  • verify_api_key — Verify your API key is valid and working
  • Installation — The Installation tool exposed by this server
  • Cursor — The Cursor tool exposed by this server
  • Windsurf — The Windsurf tool exposed by this server
  • Slack — 1. Go to Slack API and create a new app 2. Under "OAuth & Permissions", add these Bot Token Scopes: - files:write -
  • Notion — 1. Go to Notion Integrations and create a new integration 2. Copy the "Internal Integration Token" (starts

Credentials and setup notes

Configuration is passed through the environment: NAPKIN_API_KEY, NAPKIN_STORAGE_TYPE, NAPKIN_STORAGE_LOCAL_DIR, NAPKIN_API_BASE_URL, NAPKIN_STORAGE_S3_REGION, AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY, NAPKIN_STORAGE_GDRIVE_FOLDER_ID. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

  • Node.js 18.x or later - A Napkin AI API key (currently in developer preview - contact api@napkin.ai)

Worth knowing first

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Napkin Ai MCP.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Where it fits

Plenty of team communication servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Napkin Ai MCP's toolset — generate_visual, check_status, download_visual and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by louischancly; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
generate_visualSubmit a visual generation request (async)
check_statusCheck the status of a generation request
download_visualDownload a generated visual as base64
generate_and_waitGenerate and wait for completion
generate_and_saveGenerate and save to configured storage
list_stylesGet information about available styles
verify_api_keyVerify your API key is valid and working
InstallationThe Installation tool exposed by this server.
CursorThe Cursor tool exposed by this server.
WindsurfThe Windsurf tool exposed by this server.
Slack1. Go to [Slack API](https://api.slack.com/apps) and create a new app 2. Under "OAuth & Permissions", add these Bot Token Scopes: - files:write - Upload files - chat:write - Post messages (optional) 3. Install the app to
Notion1. Go to [Notion Integrations](https://www.notion.so/my-integrations) and create a new integration 2. Copy the "Internal Integration Token" (starts with secret_) 3. Open the target Notion page and click "..." → "Add conn
TelegramThe Telegram tool exposed by this server.
Discord1. Open Discord and go to the channel where you want to receive visuals 2. Click the gear icon (Edit Channel) → Integrations → Webhooks → New Webhook 3. Give it a name and optionally upload an avatar 4. Click "Copy Webho

How to install the Napkin Ai MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "napkin-ai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "napkin-ai-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NAPKIN_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Node.js 18.x or later - A Napkin AI API key (currently in developer preview - contact api@napkin.ai)
VariableDescriptionRequired
NAPKIN_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
NAPKIN_STORAGE_TYPEConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
NAPKIN_STORAGE_LOCAL_DIRFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
NAPKIN_API_BASE_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes
NAPKIN_STORAGE_S3_REGIONConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
AWS_ACCESS_KEY_IDCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
NAPKIN_STORAGE_GDRIVE_FOLDER_IDConfiguration value read at startup.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Napkin Ai MCP to generate visual.
  • Use Napkin Ai MCP to check status.
  • Use Napkin Ai MCP to download visual.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Napkin Ai MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (generate_visual, check_status, download_visual, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Napkin Ai MCP directly.