Colorize a black and white photo
Natural colour applied region by region, instead of one wash across the frame.
What this tool does
The model has studied millions of colour photographs alongside their greyscale versions, so it has learned which grey belongs to skin, which to denim, which to summer grass. On a group portrait, six faces and four jackets each get their own treatment.
Good for
- Black and white family portraits and wedding photos
- Sepia prints, where the brown cast reads as tonal information
- Group shots, where per-region colouring shows most clearly
Where it stops working
Colour the context cannot imply gets invented. An emerald dress may come back navy, and eye colour is close to a coin flip. Keep the black and white version as the record.
Questions about colorize old photo
Should I repair the photo before colorizing?
Yes. Colour applied over an unrepaired crack draws attention to the crack instead of hiding it.
Is the colour historically accurate?
It is plausible, not accurate. Skin, foliage and sky are usually right; uniforms, team colours and clothing frequently are not.
Read the full guide
How to colorize black and white photos covers the method in detail, including the cases where this tool is the wrong choice.