So I’ve been digging into the whole “black-and-white-to-color” thing lately, and it’s honestly fascinating how far tech has come. For decades, if you wanted to add color to old footage, you basically had to sit in editing software for hours masking, tweaking curves, and hand-painting frames. Now, AI tools can do it in minutes.
I tested out a few different approaches:
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AI Colorizers (desktop apps) – Tools like HitPaw VikPea use neural networks to analyze each frame and add realistic hues automatically. I was surprised that it doesn’t just slap color on—it also enhances brightness, reduces noise, and even sharpens faces. It’s crazy how “alive” old footage starts to look.
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Online colorizers – Platforms like HDconvert or Kolorize are great if you just want something quick without downloading software. Upload, click colorize, and you’re done. Downsides: most limit resolution unless you pay, and the results can feel a little flat compared to desktop apps.
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Manual editing – Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve still give you full creative control. You can match exact historical references or craft your own aesthetic. But… let’s be real, it’s time-consuming and requires some skill with color grading.
What I found interesting is how AI and manual editing can actually complement each other. You can run your footage through an AI tool first, then refine it manually if you want that extra precision.
Curious to hear from you all:
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Have you tried turning black and white video to color before?
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Do you prefer letting AI handle it, or would you rather dive into manual color grading?
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And if you’ve used AI tools like HitPaw VikPea, did you feel the results were close to “authentic” color, or more of an artistic interpretation?
Would love to see some before/after examples if anyone’s willing to share!
What do you think—should communities lean more toward AI convenience or stick to manual authenticity when restoring old footage?