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Image Messages

Prompts can include image content, allowing you to create multi-modal prompt templates that include visual information.

Supported Formats​

  • PNG (image/png)
  • JPEG (image/jpeg)
  • GIF (image/gif)
  • WebP (image/webp)

Size Limits​

  • Maximum file size: 100 MB

Uploading Images​

There are three ways to add an image to a prompt message:

Click to Upload​

  1. Select "Image" as the content type for a message
  2. Click the upload zone
  3. Select an image file from your computer

Drag and Drop​

  1. Select "Image" as the content type
  2. Drag an image file from your computer
  3. Drop it on the upload zone

Paste from Clipboard​

  1. Copy an image to your clipboard (screenshot, copied image, etc.)
  2. Select "Image" as the content type
  3. Press Ctrl+V (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+V (Mac)
  4. The image will be pasted into the upload zone

How Images are Delivered​

When an MCP client requests a prompt with image messages, the images are delivered as base64-encoded data according to the MCP specification:

{
  "role": "user",
  "content": {
    "type": "image",
    "data": "base64-encoded-image-data...",
    "mimeType": "image/png"
  }
}

This ensures compatibility with MCP clients that support multi-modal content.

Storage​

Images are stored in secure cloud storage (Google Cloud Storage). When you upload an image:

  1. The image is validated for type and size
  2. It's uploaded to a dedicated storage bucket
  3. A reference is saved with your prompt
  4. When the prompt is requested, the image is fetched and encoded

Use Cases​

Design Review Prompts​

Include reference images, mockups, or screenshots for design feedback.

Bug Report Templates​

Attach screenshots showing the expected vs actual behavior.

Documentation Prompts​

Include diagrams or architectural images that provide context.

Training Prompts​

Provide visual examples as part of few-shot learning prompts.

Best Practices​

  1. Optimize Image Size: While 100 MB is the maximum, smaller images load faster. Consider compressing images when possible.

  2. Use Appropriate Formats:

    • PNG for screenshots and images with text
    • JPEG for photographs
    • WebP for best compression

  3. Consider Context: Images are base64-encoded when sent to MCP clients, which increases the message size. Use images when they provide significant value.

  4. Test with Your Client: Different MCP clients may have varying levels of image support. Test your prompts with your target clients.