# Use VectorFast Render in Cursor

> Add the VectorFast Render remote MCP server to Cursor with one mcp.json entry, then ask the agent for OG images, changelog cards, and social posts while you code.

Canonical URL: https://vectorfast.ai/render/agents/cursor
Markdown URL: https://vectorfast.ai/render/agents/cursor.md
Last modified: 2026-10-30

**Status:** Cursor reads remote MCP servers with custom headers from mcp.json, so the API key works today. We have checked the configuration against Cursor's documentation but have not run an end-to-end test in Cursor yet. VectorFast Render is not listed in any connector directory yet; you add it by URL as a custom server.

VectorFast Render is in early access: billing is not connected yet, and API keys are issued to waitlist members as access opens.

## Cursor (mcp.json)
Any Cursor install with MCP enabled.

1. **Export your key.** Set VECTORFAST_API_KEY in the environment Cursor starts from, so the key never lands in the file.
2. **Add the server.** Put this in .cursor/mcp.json for one project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for every project. Cursor resolves `${env:NAME}` in url and headers.

   ```json
   {
  "mcpServers": {
    "vectorfast-render": {
      "url": "https://vectorfast.ai/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:VECTORFAST_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}
   ```

3. **Check the tools.** Open Cursor Settings > MCP; vectorfast-render should list seven tools. Then ask the agent for an image in chat.

## Tools
Tool descriptions mention credits because billing is part of the design; in early access billing is not connected, so no render spends credits yet.

| Tool | Title | Access | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `list_templates` | List templates | read-only | List the official VectorFast Render templates (launch post, achievement card, invite card, stat card, changelog, quote card, social square, blog/OG cover) and, if any, your custom templates. Returns each template's id, name, summary, supported sizes and a link to its preview page. Use it to pick a template before calling get_template or render. |
| `get_template` | Get template details | read-only | Get one template's parameter schema (JSON Schema), default and supported sizes, preview image and an example params object. Use it after list_templates to learn which params a template accepts before calling preview_render or render. |
| `list_brand_kits` | List brand kits | read-only | List the brand kits in your VectorFast account with their id, name, version and whether a logo is set. Use it to find the brand_kit id to pass to render. |
| `get_brand_kit` | Get brand kit | read-only | Get a brand kit's colors, fonts, logo URLs (SVG and PNG), default radius and spacing. Omit the id to get the default brand kit. Read-only; edit brand kits at vectorfast.ai. |
| `preview_render` | Preview a render (watermarked) | read-only | Render a watermarked preview of a template with the given params and brand kit. Free and does not spend credits. Returns a preview image URL. Use it to check layout and copy before calling render. |
| `render` | Render an image | renders | Render a template with the given params and brand kit into a PNG, JPEG or WebP image and return its URL. Spends 1 credit per new render (large sizes may cost more); repeating the same template, params and brand kit returns the cached image and spends nothing. Use preview_render first if you want to check the result without spending credits. |
| `get_usage` | Get usage and remaining credits | read-only | Get your current plan, credits used and remaining in this billing period, credit-pack balance and when the period resets. Use it when a render fails for lack of credits or before a large batch. |

## Example prompts
1. Make the Open Graph image for Mia Chen's new Engineering post "Why we moved image generation into CI". It is a 6 minute read; use the first sentence of the intro as the excerpt.
   - Template: https://vectorfast.ai/render/templates/blog-post
   - Output: ![Blog post rendered from the example prompt at 1200×630 with the built-in VectorFast brand kit.](https://vectorfast.ai/i/blog-post.png?author=Mia%20Chen&brand=default&category=Engineering&excerpt=Deterministic%20templates%2C%20one%20brand%20kit%2C%20and%20no%20designer%20in%20the%20loop%20for%20release-day%20assets.&h=630&readTime=6%20min%20read&title=Why%20we%20moved%20image%20generation%20into%20CI&w=1200&sig=z-gdgiWK5-SGlWEB5hQeu3gwpufAwMUTAhn5OZyNCEY)
2. Make a changelog card for our v2.3 release today, tagged "Release", with three highlights: brand kits with versioning, logo vectorization on upload, and 40% faster cold renders.
   - Template: https://vectorfast.ai/render/templates/changelog
   - Output: ![Changelog rendered from the example prompt at 1200×630 with the built-in VectorFast brand kit.](https://vectorfast.ai/i/changelog.png?brand=default&date=Oct%2030%2C%202026&h=630&items=%5B%22Brand%20kits%20with%20versioning%22%2C%22Logo%20vectorization%20on%20upload%22%2C%2240%25%20faster%20cold%20renders%22%5D&tag=Release&version=v2.3&w=1200&sig=hJxkylVnDBr2e_td928-urD3fSt9FUl_UVovZywQhgw)
3. Make a 4:5 Instagram portrait post announcing that agents can now ship on-brand images, signed @vectorfast, with a "Join the waitlist" button.
   - Template: https://vectorfast.ai/render/templates/social-square
   - Output: ![Social square rendered from the example prompt at 1080×1350 with the built-in VectorFast brand kit.](https://vectorfast.ai/i/social-square.png?body=Connect%20once%2C%20pick%20a%20template%2C%20pass%20the%20copy.&brand=default&cta=Join%20the%20waitlist&h=1350&handle=%40vectorfast&headline=Your%20agent%20now%20ships%20on-brand%20images&w=1080&sig=ZwqbdAflB5CYEyVtGESFM24GUKUvsL9y0FHoHNK5m8M)

## Good to know
- VectorFast Render authenticates MCP calls with an API key sent as `Authorization: Bearer vf_live_…`. OAuth sign-in is planned; once it ships, clients that support OAuth will connect with a sign-in flow instead of a pasted key.
- Cursor also supports OAuth for remote servers (authorization code with PKCE and dynamic client registration); that path applies once VectorFast Render ships OAuth.

## Sources
- Cursor docs: Model Context Protocol (MCP): https://cursor.com/docs/context/mcp (accessed 2026-10-30)