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RecolorthePast

Colorize old black-and-white photos

Watch a faded black-and-white photo come alive with warm, natural, lifelike color. Try it free, with no sign-up for your first preview — and your first full-resolution photo is on us.

Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1965 family photo colorized, with 1960s clothing colors and warm skin tonesAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1965 family photograph gathered around a birthday cake
Before
From grayscale to glorious color

More real examples

Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1945 wedding photo straightened, repaired and colorized with warm, natural tonesAfterAI-processed
A skewed, scratched black-and-white 1945 wedding photograph of a couple in a doorway
Before
1945 wedding — A creased, scratched 1945 wedding photo — straightened, repaired and colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1970 Tokyo street colorized, with natural signage, cars and skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1970 photograph of a Tokyo street with cars and shop signs
Before
Tokyo street, 1970 — A 1970 Tokyo street, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Mount Robson landscape with restored color — snow, blue sky and autumn treesAfterAI-processed
A faded color photograph of a snow-capped mountain and an autumn forest road
Before
Mount Robson — A faded mountain landscape, color restored
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1957 wedding portrait colorized, with warm skin tones and a white dressAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1957 Italian wedding portrait of a bride and groom
Before
Italian wedding, 1957 — A 1957 Italian wedding portrait, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1961 railway scene colorized, with natural metal, foliage and skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1961 photograph of an electric train at a railway changeover
Before
Railway, 1961 — A 1961 railway scene, colorized

Perfect for

  • That one photo of your parents you've always wondered about in color
  • A framed print that finally shows the faces, not just the gray
  • Sharing a piece of family history in the group chat — and watching the replies

How colorizing works

  1. 1

    Upload your photo

    Drag in a black-and-white scan or pick a file. JPG, PNG, TIFF and more are all welcome.

  2. 2

    AI adds natural color

    The model estimates natural skin tones, skies and clothing from what's in the photo. It's a lifelike, informed guess, not a record of the original colors.

  3. 3

    Download in full resolution

    Preview free, then download a crisp, watermark-free image to keep, share and print.

Your photos stay private

Every photo is processed in the EU, never used to train AI and deleted automatically: after about 24 hours without an account, or 7 days with one. Nightly backups may keep copies of photos and results for about 14 days after the backup is made, even if you delete a photo sooner.

Read the privacy policy

Colorizing — common questions

Is colorizing really free to try?
Yes. Your first preview is free and needs no account. Previews are watermarked and smaller; you pay only for full-resolution, watermark-free downloads, and a free account includes your first one.
Are the colors historically accurate?
They're an AI-estimated, realistic colorization — a natural, lifelike interpretation based on your photo, not a record of the original colors. The result looks true to life, not like a museum reconstruction.
Will my photos be used to train AI?
Never. Your images are used only to create your result, then deleted automatically. We never sell or share them.

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