Google Image Search Results & Metadata Scraper: MCP config, n8n workflow and API

{
  "queries": [
    "Alfons Mucha"
  ],
  "maxResults": 3,
  "minWidth": 0,
  "minHeight": 0,
  "country": "US",
  "language": "en",
  "safeSearch": "active",
  "googleOnly": false,
  "enableFallback": true
}

---
name: google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper
description: "One dataset row per image with original/thumbnail provenance, dimensions when stated, source page metadata, stable image ID and a labelled engine. Per-query completeness telemetry is in the SUMMARY key-value record. Runs the Apify Actor nimbryxo-studio/google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper. Use when the user needs Google Search data with fields such as query, position, page, engine, retrievalMethod, isFallback and an Apify token is available."
compatibility: "Needs network access, curl, and an APIFY_TOKEN environment variable. Runs are billed to the token owner's Apify account."
metadata:
  actor: "nimbryxo-studio/google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper"
  store-url: "https://apify.com/nimbryxo-studio/google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper"
---

# Google Image Search Results & Metadata Scraper

Use this skill to fetch Google Search data with the Apify Actor `nimbryxo-studio/google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper` and work with the returned rows.

## Before running

1. Check that `APIFY_TOKEN` is set in the environment. Never print it or write it to a file.
2. Build `input.json` from the user's request using the fields below. Keep limits small for a first run.
3. Confirm the search terms or URLs with the user if the request is ambiguous.

## Input fields

| Field | Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `queries` | array | One or more image search queries. Each query is searched independently. Google operators such as site:, quoted phrases and -exclusions are passed through. The legacy single `query` key is still accepted by the actor code. |
| `maxResults` | integer | Maximum number of image rows to return for each query. Google Images usually runs out around 300-400 results for a query; this is a ceiling, not a guarantee. |
| `minWidth` | integer | Drop images narrower than this many pixels. Rows without published dimensions are dropped when this is set. 0 disables the filter. |
| `minHeight` | integer | Drop images shorter than this many pixels. Rows without published dimensions are dropped when this is set. 0 disables the filter. |
| `country` | string | Two-letter country used for Google's gl parameter (and Bing's cc parameter). Local sites rank higher in local results. |
| `language` | string | Interface and result language used for Google's hl parameter (and Bing's setlang parameter). |
| `safeSearch` | one of `active`, `off` | Google SafeSearch level. 'active' filters explicit images; 'off' does not. |
| `imageSize` | string | Google Images size filter. The MP values are minimum megapixels. Bing fallback applies the nearest size category and enforces the exact MP floor locally when dimensions are known. |
| `imageColor` | string | Google Images color filter. 'black_and_white' is grayscale; 'transparent' looks for a transparent background. |
| `imageType` | one of `photo`, `face`, `clipart`, `lineart`, `animated` | Google Images type filter: photographs, faces, clip art, line drawings or animated images. |
| `fileType` | one of `jpg`, `png`, `gif`, `bmp`, `svg`, `webp`, `ico` | Only images in this format. Google applies this server-side; Bing fallback applies it to the image URL extension locally. |
| `timeRange` | one of `hour`, `day`, `week`, `month`, `year` | Only images Google found within this period. Bing fallback maps 'hour' to its 24-hour window. |
| `usageRights` | one of `free_to_use_or_share`, `free_to_use_or_share_commercially`, `free_to_use_share_or_modify`, `free_to_use_share_or_modify_commercially` | Google's usage-rights labels. These are Google's labels, not a legal guarantee; check the licence on the source page before reuse. |
| `googleOnly` | boolean | When true, a failed or empty Google search fails that query with a clear status instead of using another engine. The default is false so legacy saved tasks keep working; set this true for a strict Google-only contract. |

Example `input.json` (the Actor's published prefill):

```json
{
  "queries": [
    "Alfons Mucha"
  ],
  "maxResults": 3,
  "minWidth": 0,
  "minHeight": 0,
  "country": "US",
  "language": "en",
  "safeSearch": "active",
  "googleOnly": false,
  "enableFallback": true
}
```

## Run

```bash
curl -sS -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/nimbryxo-studio~google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @input.json > results.json
```

The call waits for the run to finish and returns the dataset items as a JSON array. If the run needs more than 300 seconds the API answers with HTTP 408; then start the run with `POST /v2/acts/nimbryxo-studio~google-image-search-results-and-metadata-scraper/runs`, poll `GET /v2/actor-runs/{runId}` until `SUCCEEDED`, and read `GET /v2/datasets/{defaultDatasetId}/items`.

## Output

Each item is one record. Published fields include: `query`, `position`, `page`, `engine`, `retrievalMethod`, `isFallback`, `fallbackReason`, `searchUrl`, `fetchedAt`, `imageId`, `imageUrl`, `imageUrlType`, `isCrawlerOnly`, `hasOriginal`, `imageWidth`, `imageHeight`, `aspectRatio`, `orientation`, `fileFormat`, `thumbnailUrl`.

Summarise what was found, cite the record URLs when present, and say how many items came back. Do not invent values for empty fields.