Bringing Old Family Videos Back to Life with AI Colorization

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working on digitizing some old family footage lately — things like my grandparents’ wedding in black-and-white, birthday parties from the 60s, and grainy holiday clips. Watching them is special, but honestly, they feel a bit distant.

Recently, I tried out an AI tool called HitPaw VikPea, and the results surprised me. Instead of flat grayscale, the videos came back with realistic colors: wedding flowers looked vibrant, kids’ faces showed natural blush, and even background details popped out. It didn’t feel like “watching history” anymore — it felt like being there.

Why I think colorization matters:

  • It makes old footage easier for younger generations to connect with.

  • Subtle emotions (like a nervous smile or a tear) are way more visible.

  • Digitally colorizing also helps preserve fragile footage before it deteriorates further.

What the tool does:

  • Adds natural color to B&W videos.

  • Enhances faded or low-light clips.

  • Lets you preview before/after in real-time.

  • Exports up to 4K (worked fine with my MP4s and old AVIs).

  • Pretty beginner-friendly — drag, click, export.

How I used it:

  1. Imported my old family video.

  2. Selected the “B&W Colorization” model.

  3. Previewed side-by-side before saving.

  4. Exported in 4K.

It honestly felt like reviving family history rather than just editing.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: If you’re sitting on a pile of old tapes or reels, this might be worth checking out.
Here’s the article that got me started with it (explains the tool in detail):
Read more here Colorize Old Family Videos and Relive Memories in Vivid Detail

Curious — has anyone else here tried colorizing old family videos? Did it feel authentic to you, or more like a “remix” of history?