Developer API Overview

The Kolbo Developer API lets you programmatically access 100+ AI models for generating images, videos, music, speech, and sound effects. Use it from any language, or integrate directly into Claude Code via our MCP server.

Quick Start

1. Get an API Key

Create a key from the Developer Console or via the API:

curl -X POST https://api.kolbo.ai/api/api-keys \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "My App"}'

Save the fullKey from the response -- it is only shown once.

2. Generate an Image

When you omit the model field, Kolbo uses Smart Select to automatically pick the best model for your prompt. This is the recommended approach for most use cases.

curl -X POST https://api.kolbo.ai/api/v1/generate/image \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"prompt": "A sunset over mountains", "aspect_ratio": "16:9"}'

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "generation_id": "abc123",
  "type": "image",
  "poll_url": "/api/v1/generate/abc123/status",
  "poll_interval_hint": 3
}

3. Poll for Results

Replace abc123 with the generation_id from step 2:

curl https://api.kolbo.ai/api/v1/generate/abc123/status \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

When complete:

{
  "success": true,
  "generation_id": "abc123",
  "state": "completed",
  "progress": 100,
  "result": {
    "urls": ["https://cdn.kolbo.ai/..."],
    "model": "auto",
    "prompt_used": "A breathtaking sunset..."
  }
}

Full Example (JavaScript)

const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";
const BASE = "https://api.kolbo.ai/api/v1";

async function generateImage(prompt) {
  const res = await fetch(`${BASE}/generate/image`, {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "X-API-Key": API_KEY,
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ prompt, aspect_ratio: "16:9" })
  });
  const { generation_id } = await res.json();

  while (true) {
    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
    const status = await fetch(`${BASE}/generate/${generation_id}/status`, {
      headers: { "X-API-Key": API_KEY }
    }).then((r) => r.json());

    if (status.state === "completed") return status.result.urls;
    if (status.state === "failed") throw new Error(status.error);
  }
}

generateImage("A sunset over mountains").then(console.log);

Full Example (Python)

import requests
import time

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
BASE = "https://api.kolbo.ai/api/v1"

def generate_image(prompt):
    res = requests.post(
        f"{BASE}/generate/image",
        headers={"X-API-Key": API_KEY, "Content-Type": "application/json"},
        json={"prompt": prompt, "aspect_ratio": "16:9"}
    )
    generation_id = res.json()["generation_id"]

    while True:
        time.sleep(3)
        status = requests.get(
            f"{BASE}/generate/{generation_id}/status",
            headers={"X-API-Key": API_KEY}
        ).json()

        if status["state"] == "completed":
            return status["result"]["urls"]
        if status["state"] == "failed":
            raise Exception(status["error"])

urls = generate_image("A sunset over mountains")
print(urls)

Generation Types

Shorts Creator

Turn one long video (≤30 min, Kolbo media-library URL) into up to 5 restyled vertical shorts. Two-phase job flow: analyze (flat 15 credits, AI picks the best moments) → pick moments + style preset + mode (accents = restyle the strongest beats, cheaper; full = restyle everything) + optional burned-in subtitles → render (credits reserved up-front, failed shorts auto-refund).

See Shorts Creator for the full workflow and pricing.

Visual DNA

Create reusable visual identities for characters, products, or styles, then attach them to any generation for consistency.

See Visual DNA for details.

Moodboards

Discover and apply style templates (moodboards) to guide the visual direction of your generations.

Pass moodboard_id to image generation, image editing, or Creative Director requests. See Moodboards for details.

Music Library

Search Kolbo's catalog of licensed, ready-made background tracks (distinct from music generation). All endpoints are free (no credits).

See Music Library for details.

Stock Library

Unified, multi-source stock media (Kolbo AI's own sound effects + music, Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay, Coverr, Sketchfab 3D, Freesound, Music) — photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, 3D models, sound effects, music. Find b-roll/references/project assets. All endpoints are free (no credits).

See Stock Library for details.

Chat

Send messages to 20+ AI models with multi-turn conversation support.

See Chat for details.

Media Library

Upload local files to the user's Kolbo library, get back a stable CDN URL, and browse everything the user has — uploaded files and AI-generated outputs — with the same filters as the desktop app and Adobe plugin (by project, folder, type, and section).

See Media Library for the full filter reference and examples.

Presets Discovery

Projects

Every generation endpoint accepts an optional project_id body field that routes the generation into a specific project. See Projects.

Other Endpoints

Authentication

All requests require the X-API-Key header with your API key:

X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY

See Authentication for details on creating and managing keys.

Claude Code Integration

Use Kolbo as native tools in Claude Code via our MCP server. See Claude Code Setup.