How to Colorize Black and White Photos
To colorize a black and white photo, upload it to EditThisPic and type 'colorize this photo' or 'add realistic color to this black and white image.' The AI analyzes the scene, identifies objects like skin, sky, clothing, and foliage, and applies historically accurate colors. Works on scanned prints, old family photos, and film negatives. Free, no signup required.
Bring Old Photos to Life with AI Color
Black and white photos hold decades of family history, but they can feel distant. Adding color transforms them into something that feels immediate and real. AI colorization has improved dramatically: it no longer produces the washed-out, obviously fake tints of early tools. Modern AI understands context, applying accurate skin tones, natural sky blues, and realistic fabric colors based on what it sees in the image.
How AI Colorization Works
The AI examines the grayscale values and the shapes in your photo to determine what each element is. It recognizes faces, trees, buildings, clothing, and skies, then applies colors based on what those objects typically look like. Grass gets green, sky gets blue, skin gets natural tones. The AI also respects lighting: shadows stay dark, highlights stay bright, and the color saturation matches the scene's mood.
What Types of Black and White Photos Colorize Best
- Portrait photos with clear faces and clothing
- Outdoor scenes with sky, trees, and landscapes
- Street photography with buildings and cars
- Military photos with recognizable uniforms
- Wedding and formal event photos
- Scanned film negatives and darkroom prints
Colorizing Scanned Family Photos
Most people use this for old family photos. Scan your print at 300 DPI or higher for the best results. The AI works on any scan quality, but higher resolution gives it more detail to work with. Faded prints, slight yellowing, and minor damage do not prevent colorization. If the photo is badly damaged, consider restoring it first with an AI repair tool, then colorizing the cleaned version.
Guide the AI with Specific Colors
The AI makes educated guesses about colors, but you can override them. If you know your grandmother wore a red dress in a photo, tell the AI: 'colorize this photo, the woman's dress should be red.' You can specify hair color, wall color, car color, or any other detail you remember. The more guidance you provide, the more accurate the result.
Colorizing Historical and Archival Images
AI colorization is widely used for historical photos. World War II images, early 20th century street scenes, and Victorian-era portraits all colorize well. The AI draws on its training data to apply period-appropriate colors. For the most accurate results with historical images, mention the era: 'colorize this 1940s military photo with accurate uniform colors.'
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload Your Black and White Photo
Drop or select your grayscale image. Scanned prints, digital photos, and downloaded archival images all work. JPG, PNG, and WebP up to 7MB.
Describe the Colorization
Type 'colorize this photo' for automatic color. Or guide the AI with specifics: 'colorize this photo, the dress is blue and the background wall is cream.' Mentioning known colors improves accuracy.
Review the Colorized Result
Check skin tones, sky color, and clothing. Use the before/after slider to compare with the original. Most colorizations look great on the first try.
Adjust Colors If Needed
If any colors are off, describe the fix: 'make the jacket darker brown' or 'the sky should be more blue.' You can refine individual elements without re-colorizing the entire photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Add Color to Your Old Photos?
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