Colorize Black and White Photos With AI
Import an old black-and-white or sepia photo: the AI puts it in color in seconds, with natural skin, sky and greenery tones. Set the strength, compare before and after, then download it at full resolution. The photo stays on your device.
- Colors by AI
- Adjustable strength
- Full resolution
- Nothing is uploaded
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How do you colorize a black-and-white photo?
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Import the photo
Drag the black-and-white or sepia photo into the box, or paste it with Ctrl+V. A scanned photo gives the best results.
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Start the colorization
Tap “Colorize photo”. The first time, the AI model is downloaded once; adding the color then takes a few seconds.
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Adjust and download
Move the strength slider for softer or bolder colors, compare with the original, then save as a JPG or a PNG.
Automatic colorization that respects your photo
Natural colors
The AI recognizes skin, hair, sky, grass, trees or sea and gives them believable colors, without a painted-on look.
Every detail kept
Only the colors are added: the light, grain and sharpness of the original photo are kept exactly as they were, at full resolution.
Adjustable strength
A slider sets the colors from 0 to 100%: a light vintage-photo tint, or vivid colors.
Private and free
Everything is computed in your browser: no upload, no account, no watermark, no limit on photos.
Put a black-and-white photo in color in a few seconds
Colorizing a black-and-white photo used to take hours of work in photo editing software, area by area, with a brush. Here, the AI does it automatically: it analyzes the photo, recognizes faces, clothing, sky, buildings or greenery, and picks plausible colors for each. It doesn't touch the brightness of the image: shadows, highlights and details stay exactly as in the original, which gives a natural look instead of a painted one. The result is computed at the size of your photo, up to about 16 million pixels, and saves as a JPG or a PNG. It's ideal for bringing your grandparents' photos, a family portrait or an old postcard back to life.
Adjust the colors and compare with the original
After colorizing, a strength slider sets how strong the colors are, from 0 to 100%. At 100%, you get the colors chosen by the AI; around 50 to 70%, the photo keeps an old-time charm with softer tints; at 0%, you get back the original black and white or sepia. The before/after slider lets you compare the two versions in the same spot. If the photo is already in color but faded, the tool can also recompute its colors: lower the strength then to keep some of the original tones.
The limits of AI colorization
The AI doesn't know the real colors of the scene: it guesses them from millions of photos. Skin, sky and greenery are usually very convincing, but the color of a dress, a car or a door is a guess. On some unusual or very hazy scenes, the AI may play it safe and give very pale colors. For a family keepsake, compare with what you know about the era. If the photo is also faded or grainy, or the faces are blurry, start instead with the “Restore Old Photos” tool, which cleans up the image, restores faces and can colorize at the same time.
Your photos stay with you
Unlike most online photo colorizing sites, no image is sent to a server. The AI model, about 135 MB, is downloaded once and then kept in your browser's cache; colorizing then happens on your computer, tablet or phone, even for private family photos. It's free, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I colorize a black-and-white photo for free?
Import the photo, tap “Colorize photo”, adjust the strength if needed and download the result. It's free, with no sign-up or watermark.
Are the colors the real colors?
No, they are believable colors chosen by the AI. Skin, sky and greenery are generally right; the color of clothes or objects is a guess.
Can I colorize a sepia photo?
Yes. The AI works on the brightness of the image: a sepia, yellowed or bluish photo is colorized like a black-and-white one.
Does the photo lose quality?
No. The colors are laid over the original photo at full resolution; its details and sharpness are kept. Save as a PNG to avoid any compression.
Is my photo sent to a server?
No. Only the AI model is downloaded, once; colorizing happens in your browser and the photo never leaves your device.
The colors are too bright or too pale. What can I do?
Use the strength slider to soften them. If they're too pale even at 100%, the AI is unsure about the scene: try a cropped or higher-contrast version of the photo.