AI Photo Colorizer

Bring old black & white photos to life with color

100% private — your photos never leave your device

Drop a black & white photo or click to upload

JPG, PNG, WebP — up to 1024px for best results

Last updated: March 2026

How to Colorize a Photo Online

Colorizing a black and white photo transforms flat grayscale tones into vivid, lifelike color. Whether you’re restoring a family heirloom from the 1940s or adding artistic color to a modern monochrome shot, the process works by analyzing each region of the image and applying statistically probable colors based on luminance patterns.

Studies show that colorized historical photos receive 3.7x more engagement on social media than their black and white originals. The before/after transformation creates a powerful emotional connection, especially with family photos that span generations.

Best Practices for Photo Colorization

  • Start with good contrast: Photos with clear distinction between light and dark areas produce better colorization results
  • Use color hints for accuracy: If you know a dress was red or the car was blue, add a color hint to guide the AI
  • Adjust intensity: Start at 75% and adjust up or down. Some vintage photos look best with subtle, muted colors (50-60%)
  • Try the side-by-side export: The 1200×630 comparison image is optimized for social media sharing
  • Scan at high resolution: If digitizing a physical photo, scan at 300+ DPI for the best colorization results

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add color to an old black and white photo?
Upload the photo, click Colorize Photo, and the AI automatically adds color. Use the intensity slider to control vividness and add color hints for specific items like clothing or vehicles.
What types of photos work best for colorization?
Clear, well-lit photos with good contrast produce the best results. Portraits, landscapes, and street scenes colorize particularly well. Very dark, blurry, or damaged photos may produce less accurate results.
Can I correct a color the AI got wrong?
Yes — use the Color Hints feature. Click on the area with the wrong color, pick the correct color from the color picker, and re-colorize. You can add up to 10 hints per image.
Is this free to use?
Yes, completely free with no limits. No signup, no watermark on the colorized download, no daily processing cap. The side-by-side export includes a small site attribution.
Do I need to install anything?
No installation needed. The tool runs entirely in your web browser on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone. All processing happens locally on your device.