Colorize Black and White Photos

Examples made with this tool

How it works

1. Step 1

   Scan or photograph the print

   Flat and evenly lit. Colourising works from tone, so a scan that holds its greys — neither crushed black nor washed out — gives the best result.

2. Step 2

   Let it add the colour

   Skin tones, clothing, foliage, brick and sky, in about a minute.

3. Step 3

   Compare it with the original

   Worth doing every time. The colour is an interpretation; the black-and-white print is the record.

Frequently asked questions

How do I colorize a black and white photo?

Scan or photograph the print, upload it, and the AI infers colour from the tones — skin, hair, fabric, foliage, sky — and paints it in. It takes about a minute.

Are the colours accurate?

They are plausible, not accurate, and the difference is worth holding on to. A grey jacket in a 1940s print could have been navy, brown or green; the model picks what is most likely, not what was true. If you know the real colour of a dress or a uniform, the result is a nice picture rather than a correction of your memory.

Does it change the photo?

No. The prompt adds colour only and is instructed not to alter faces, composition or content. Anything that moves or appears would be a different photograph, not a colourised one.

What makes a good source scan?

Even lighting, no glare, and a full range of greys. A very contrasty or very flat scan gives the model less tonal information to read colour from.

Should I restore the photo first?

Yes, if it is damaged. Creases and stains read as tonal detail and get colour painted onto them. Repair first, then colourise the repaired copy.

What does it cost?

Each generation comes off your Reelina credit balance and the exact cost is shown before you press Generate. One balance covers every model in the workspace.

Is it free?

No — Reelina runs on paid credits. We show what a generation costs before you run it rather than advertising a free tier we do not have.

What happens to my photos?

They are used only to make your results. Creations are private by default, and everything is deleted seven days after it is generated.

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