Users can now turn black-and-white photographs into realistic color photos using ChatGPT’s advanced image editing features. Whether one is restoring a family portrait or an old street view photograph, this feature enables users to bring the past to life with stunning and lifelike results.

How the AI Colorization Works

ChatGPT strives to deliver the best possible user experiences, so it employs a sophisticated image-editing tool that works based on user-uploaded files, applying specific and custom-tailored user commands. The tool provides colorized tones for images based on specific inputs while preserving original lighting and textures of faces, as well as backgrounds. It applies greater care and control in comparison to more rudimentary coloring methods.

Best Prompt to Naturally Colorize Old Photographs
Use the following prompt for the best results when uploading a black and white photo:

Prompt:
“Change this black-and-white photo into one that is colourized using natural colors. Skin tones, lighting, and historically relevant colors must be accurate. Details, textures, and contrast must be kept. Do not use over-saturation, stylised effects, or visible AI artefacts. The image must appear, to the eye, as an authentic color photograph rather than AI-generated. In the case of a portrait, natural skin textures and accurate eye color must be retained. For street and lanscape scenes, fabric and surface tones must be realistic for the sky and foliage. Color balance must be true-to-life and subtle changes that make retain the atmosphere and essence of the photo are allowed.”

“The complete rephrasing makes it seem AI-written rather than human.”

Step-by-step: Use ChatGPT to colorize ancient photographs:
Step 1: Upload your image
Click the image icon located in the ChatGPT window.

Upload printers, high-resolution black and white photographs, and scanned images for the best results.

Step 2: Paste the Colorization Prompt
Use the prompt provided above to ensure the color outputs from the AI are accurate.

We Compare the Original to AI’s ChatGPT Colorized Versions.

The feature was evaluated by taking a color photo, converting it to black and white, and requesting ChatGPT to ‘colorize’ it. This is what we discovered:

Original Photo: Cool lighting, ambient shadows (realistic), appears to have a slight pale skin tone, grey shirt, and fabric texture is visible.

First AI-Enhanced Image: Skin tone seems more natural and warmer while grey still clings to the shirt. Balance is subtly improved and toned corrections are softer.

Second AI-Enhanced Image: Shirt recolored to a warm rust brown which enhances a vintage aesthetic. The work becomes more stylized with softer textures and creative interpretation while maintaining realism.

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