ImageBeginner7 min

How to Colorize a Black and White Photo

Adding color to a black and white photo used to require the skill of a trained colorist. With modern AI, the result is one click away. This guide covers the practical steps, the things to watch for, and how to get the best result for a specific type of photograph.

O que você precisará

  • ✓A black and white or sepia photograph in JPG, PNG, TIFF, or WebP format.
  • ✓For best results, the source should be at least 1000 pixels on the long edge.
  • ✓A reference color photo from the same era is helpful but not required.

Instruções passo a passo

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Step 1: Prepare the Source

Scan or export the photo at the highest available resolution. If the original is a print, scan at 600 DPI minimum. If the original is a digital file, use it as-is. Do not upscale before colorization - the model will produce better results on native resolution input.

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Step 2: Choose the Right Model

Our colorization service offers two modes: automatic and era-guided. Automatic mode is best for general use. Era-guided mode lets you hint at the period (1920s, 1960s, 1980s) and the model adjusts the color palette accordingly. For most photos, automatic mode produces good results without any input.

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Step 3: Run the Colorization

Click the Start Colorization button. The model takes 3-8 seconds to process. The result is shown in a side-by-side view. Compare carefully: skin tones should look natural, sky should be the right shade for the implied time of day, and clothing colors should be era-appropriate.

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Step 4: Adjust if Needed

If the result has color issues (oversaturated sky, off skin tones, wrong era colors), re-run with a different mode or with the optional prompt. For example, "1940s outdoor portrait" will produce different results than "1980s indoor party".

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Step 5: Post-Process

For the most natural result, apply a final color grade in your preferred editor. The model produces a flat colorization that benefits from a slight contrast boost and saturation adjustment. Avoid heavy-handed filters - the goal is to make the photo look like a color original, not an art piece.

Dicas de profissionais

  • ★Group photos from the same era and run them through colorization together for a consistent look.
  • ★For portraits, the model performs better when the face is well-lit and at least 200 pixels wide.
  • ★Sepia-toned originals often colorize better than pure grayscale because the brown tint gives the model a hint about the era.
  • ★For archival projects, keep the original black and white version alongside the colorized result.