How to colorize black and white photos in Photoshop?

Every one of us has that album that contains black and white photos, right? We love these photos because they hold our family memories and special moments from the past. They feel timeless and classic, but sometimes also a little far away from today’s world.

Adding color gives these old photos a new life. When you see a dress in blue, a tree in green, or a sky in orange, the picture suddenly feels real. Color helps us understand what the moment might have looked like in real life. It also makes memories warmer and easier to connect with.

Many people enjoy colorizing old photos because it brings history to life, allowing us to feel and relate to it. Today, this is no longer a hard job. Adobe Photoshop’s Neural Filters, especially the “Colorize” filter, can add color to black-and-white photos automatically in just a few clicks.

In this blog, you will learn how to convert black and white photos into colorful ones, how to use AI tools, and then make further small changes to get the best result. Even if you are new to Photoshop, you can follow the steps given in this blog and bring old photos back to life.

Getting ready: what you need before you start

There are certain things that you need to get ready with before coloring the black and white photo using Photoshop. Doing so helps in getting smoother and better results. So, let us find one by one what we need.

Have the right Photoshop version

Make sure you have a recent version of Adobe Photoshop. Newer versions of Photoshop include Neural Filters—such as the Colorize filter—that can automatically add color to black-and-white photos. In case you don't have these features in your tool, update it to the latest version. 

Choose a good-quality black and white photo

A high-resolution image works best because it shows more details. Clear photos give better results when color is added. If the photo is blurry or very small, the colors may appear unnatural. Click here if you are looking for how to unblur an image in Photoshop or how to upscale an image without losing quality.

Keep reference colored images (optional)

Collect photos of similar people, clothes, or places to match colors more realistically. For example, look at a colored picture of a uniform or a building to know which shades to use. This step is optional, but it helps make your final photo look more natural and lifelike.

Steps to colorize a black and white photo using Photoshop

The Photoshop desktop app doesn't have a free version, but yes, you can download it for a 7-day free trial. Also, you will have 14 days after your free trial ends to cancel and get a full refund.

This platform allows you to edit pictures and give them a high-quality, customized look. Below, I have mentioned the steps one would need to take in order to color black and white photos. 

Step 1:  Open the image you want to color and, in the menu bar, choose Filter > Neural Filters. Then select Colorize. 

Note: You’ll need to download each Neural Filter before using it for the first time. If you have already downloaded the Colorize filter, simply toggle it on.

You can customize the effects of the filter in the next few steps. Or, if you’re happy with the results, click OK.

Step 2: Refine colorized areas. Sometimes, we may not like the automatic colorization in every part of the photo. For example, you may want to keep the original gray color of a cement area.

In the focal points preview, click on the part of the photo you want to change. Then choose a new color for it with the color picker. Use the strength slider to control the extent to which the new color affects that area.

Step 3: Adjust the color setting by clicking on the Adjustment panel to tweak saturation and other elements. Then click on "Output as a new color layer" to preserve the original image and click OK.

Step 4: You can also add custom colors by using the brush tool to paint. To use this edited image on social media, click on Choose File > Export > Export As and modify the settings for the output you need.

How to colorize images using AI

Do you want to bring color to your black-and-white images easily? Let me show you the top 5 AI-powered photo colorizers. I tested each of them so that you don’t have to. Most of these tools offer free trials or free versions so you can test them before subscribing. 

So, once you are satisfied with the outcome, then only subscribe to them. But before testing, make sure you know how to fix low-quality images because better quality helps in generating better results.

Here are the top five picks for busy readers:

Pixelbin

Pixelbin is an online AI image editor tool that turns your black and white photos into color images in just a few seconds. You don’t need to install anything; you just open your browser and upload a JPG, JPEG, or PNG file (or paste its URL) and let the AI do its work. Once it finishes, you can download the colorized photo in high resolution. 

The tool tries to give “natural” colors so your photo looks like it might have been taken in color originally. Your image stays clean; there is no watermark added. There are tools that produce results, but with watermarks.

But you can use several of the best apps to remove watermarks available in the market. Also, Pixelbin cares about privacy: your photos are not shared and are kept safe.

Features

• Upload or paste the URL of the photo (JPG, JPEG, PNG).
• AI-powered automatic colorization: Fast results.
• High-resolution downloads so image quality stays good.
• No watermark on the finished color photo.
• Free trial/free first uses (you get some free credits).
• Browser-based: Works on desktop or mobile, no heavy software needed.

Steps for how to colorize black and white photos using Pixelbin

Step 1:  Visit the Pixelbin official website and click on AI tools > see all.

Step 2: In the search bar, search for a “ black and white image to color” and upload the image.

Step 3: After uploading the image, you will get a colorized version of it. If you want to make further edits, click on “edit image with AI.” 

Media.io

You can use Media.io to edit photos, videos, and audio files online. Here, there is no need to download or install any software. One of its best tools is the Photo Colorizer, which uses AI to quickly add color to black-and-white photos.

This tool is beginner-friendly and can be used by us to bring family pictures or historic images back to life without needing any special editing skills. Besides colorizing photos, Media.io also offers many other free tools. You can convert videos, edit audio, remove photo backgrounds, make GIFs, improve image quality, and compress files.

It works with many file types and keeps your data safe by encrypting uploads and deleting them after processing. This makes it a simple and secure choice for anyone who wants quick online edits.

Features

• Photo Colorizer: Adds color to black-and-white photos automatically with AI.
• Video & audio editing tools: Trim, convert, merge, and edit media files easily.
• Image tools: Remove backgrounds, upscale images, enhance quality.
• Supports multiple file formats, including JPG, PNG, MP4, MP3, and more.
• Data security: Encrypted uploads and automatic file deletion after processing.
• Free & paid options: Basic features are free to use, and premium plans are for extra tools.

Steps to Colorize a Black and White Photo using Media.io

Step 1: Visit the Media.io official website and click on online tool > photo colorizer.‍

Step 2: Click on “colorize photo online” and then upload the image.

Step 3: Within seconds, you will get the colorized image. Set the canvas as per your liking and download the image.

DeepAI Colorizer

DeepAI is a creative web tool that lets anyone use artificial intelligence (AI) through their browser. You can do things like generate pictures, edit photos, make short videos, compose music, and chat with an AI that learns, all without installing special software.

It started in 2016 and has grown to offer many tools for artists, developers, and everyday users. When it comes to images, DeepAI has tools like a Colorizer that adds color to black-and-white photos automatically, a Super Resolution tool to increase image quality, a background remover, and image replacement tools.

So if you have old black and white photos that you want to change into color or perform other image editing tasks, DeepAI helps you make them look better easily.

Features 

• Web-based platform: Works in a browser; no software download needed. 
• Colorizer tool: Turns black-and-white images into colored ones automatically. 
• Super Resolution: Improve image clarity; make low-res images sharper. 
• Background remover: Remove or change the background of an image. 
• Image replacement/expand image: Change parts of an image or expand its boundaries. 
• Generative tools: Create images from prompts, make music, videos, etc. 
• Chat with AI & Voice Chat features: Talk or interact via text/voice with AI.

Steps to Colorize a Black and White Photo using DeepAI colorizer

Step 1: Visit the DeepAI official website and click on the colorizer.

Step 2: Upload the black and white image and click on "generate" to get a colorful image. 

VanceAI Photo Colorizer

VanceAI Photo Colorizer is an online tool that turns black-and-white photos into color in just a few seconds. You upload your old or black-and-white photos, and the AI (artificial intelligence) adds colors that look real.

It works well for old pictures that you want to bring back to life, like family portraits, historic photos, or vintage pictures. You don’t need any photo-editing experience.

It also helps fix damaged photos—things like yellow tint, scratches, and spots. Before colorizing, you can restore the image so that the final photo looks clean and vivid. The service promises that your images will be safe: they are deleted after 24 hours once processing is done.

Features 

• Colorizes black-and-white or grayscale photos in about 5 seconds. 
• One-click automatic colorization: you don’t need special skills. 
• Supports popular image formats: JPG, PNG, JPEG. 
• Can fix old damaged photos: Remove yellow tint, spots, and scratches. 
• Offers a “Deep Edit” or brush tool so you can tweak/color parts of the image manually for better results.

Steps to Colorize a Black and White Photo using VanceAI photo colorizer

Step 1: Visit the VanceAI official website and click on Image AI > AI photo colorizer.

Step 2: Upload the image that you want to colorize.‍

Step 3: After uploading the image, you will get a colorful version, which you can edit further. 

ImageColorizer

ImageColorizer is an online tool that adds color to old black-and-white photos. Just upload your photo (JPG, PNG, or WebP), and the tool uses AI to give it natural-looking colors.

It also helps fix old photos by fixing scratches, making them clearer, sharper, and less faded. It’s good for family photos, historical shots, or any old image you want to make look fresh and alive again.

You can use it for free (for a single image at a time) or pay to get extra features (like taking many photos together). The site also gives you support anytime, and you don’t need special editing skills.

Features 

• Colorizes black-and-white images automatically. 
• Supports JPG, PNG, and WebP formats. 
• Improve sharpness/clarity; enhance resolution. 
• Process multiple images (batch) with an upgrade. 
• Free to use for basic; the Pro version has more options. 
• No watermark on final images.

Steps to Colorize a Black and White Photo using ImageColorizer

Step 1: Visit the ImageColorize official website and click on Products > Colorize black & white photos.

Step 2: Upload the image that you want to colorize.

Step 3:  After uploading the image, you will get a colorized version. You can download it or make further edits as per your liking.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When you colorize old black & white photos, there are some mistakes many people make. If you know them beforehand, you can make your result look much more natural and pretty.

Over-saturation/Making colors too bright

A common mistake is making colors too strong. When saturation is too high, skin can look strange, clothes can look fake, and the photo may look like a cartoon.

Tip: Use the saturation or vibrance sliders carefully. After adding color, lower the saturation a little if it looks too bright. Compare with real photos to see what looks natural.

Color bleeding

Color bleeding happens when one color spreads into another area where it doesn’t belong. For example, red from a dress may spill onto hair, or green from leaves may spill onto skin. This makes the photo look messy.

Tip to avoid: Use layer masks or focus areas to control where the color goes. Zoom in and clean the edges with a soft brush. Use tools that stay aware of edges so colors stay in the right place.

Forgetting to use reference colors

Without reference images, you might pick the wrong colors. Skin may look too pink, or clothes may not look natural. Automatic tools can miss the small color differences in real life.

Tip: Find photos of similar scenes or objects to check skin tones, fabrics, and backgrounds. Keep these references nearby while working and match the shadows and highlights too.

Conclusion

Making black-and-white photos colorful in Photoshop is an easy way to bring old pictures to life. You can add colors to people, objects, and backgrounds to make the photo look bright and nice. Whether it is old family photos or art, Photoshop lets you control all the colors. With a little practice, anyone can turn black-and-white photos into colorful pictures.

There are also many other tools that can change black-and-white photos into colorful images. I hope you have tried all the tools mentioned above. By practicing and trying them, anyone can learn to make black-and-white photos colorful and beautiful.