Real exampleColourise a black-and-white portrait
An old single-person portrait in natural, era-matched colour.
Make it yours
Viral trend
Colourise old photo trend: 5 prompts to try
This trend adds believable colour to black-and-white family photos, matched to the time the picture was taken. The colours are the AI's guess, not the real ones, and the prompts keep every face as it is.
Real example
Real exampleColourise an old family studio photo
A black-and-white family studio portrait brought into soft, period colour.
Make it yours
Real exampleColourise an old wedding couple photo
An old black-and-white wedding photo shown in warm, believable colour.
Make it yours
Real exampleColourise an old street or house photo
An old black-and-white photo of a street, shop or family home in period colour.
Make it yours
Real exampleHand-tinted look for an old portrait
An old portrait given soft, painted-on colour like a hand-tinted studio print.
Make it yours
Why it's trending
Seeing a grandparent's photo in colour can make it feel closer and more familiar. It is a simple way to share old family pictures in a new light while keeping the original safe.
How to make it
- Scan the black-and-white photo flat, with no glare or album edges.
- Choose a prompt above and set the era and any colours you know in Customise.
- Copy the prompt, open ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok, upload the scan and paste it.
- Compare faces and details with the original, and tell relatives the colours are an estimate.
Tips
- If you know a real colour, such as a red wedding saree or a green door, write it in so the guess is closer.
- Mention the decade and region so clothes and backgrounds get colours that fit the time.
- If skin tones look too light, too orange or too even, ask for natural skin tones that vary from person to person.
- Restore scratches first if the photo is damaged, then colourise.
Use photos with care
Only colourise photos of your own family, or photos you have permission to edit. The colours are the AI's estimate, not the real colours, so do not present the result as an accurate record or a replacement for the original photo. Keep the original and check every face against it.
Questions
Are the colours accurate?
No. The AI guesses colours from patterns in similar photos. Clothes, skin and backgrounds may be different from what they really were.
How can I make the colours closer to real life?
Tell the model any colours you know from family memory, and the decade and place the photo was taken.
Will colourising change faces?
It can. The prompts ask the model to keep every face exactly as it is, but compare the result with the original before sharing.