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RecolorthePast
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See your family photos in color

Drag in a black-and-white photo and watch the memory come back to life — gently colorized in warm, true-to-era tones.

  • Generate one photo free — a watermarked preview, no account needed
  • Your first full-resolution photo is free — then simple credits
  • Your photos stay private — and are never used to train AI

Try one photo free. Your first preview is free — smaller, with a watermark, no account needed. A free account gets you 3 previews and your first full-resolution photo on us.

Create free account →
Free preview
HD downloads
Batch processing
EU-hosted
No training on your photos

Real photos, brought back to life

Every pair below is a genuine public-domain photo restored by our own engine — streets, portraits, landscapes and damaged prints. Drag any slider.

Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1945 wedding photo straightened, repaired and colorized with warm, natural tonesAfterAI-processed
A skewed, scratched black-and-white 1945 wedding photograph of a couple in a doorway
Before
1945 wedding — A creased, scratched 1945 wedding photo — straightened, repaired and colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1920 mechanic colorized: warm skin tones against gunmetal machinery and brass pipesAfterAI-processed
Black-and-white 1920 photograph of a mechanic bent over a steam pump with a wrench
Before
Power-house mechanic, 1920 — Lewis Hine's iconic machinist, colorized — skin, steel and brass each finding their own tone
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1946 street colorized, with bright parked cars, green hillside trees and warm wooden buildingsAfterAI-processed
Black-and-white 1946 photograph of a Wheelwright, Kentucky street lined with parked cars and a parking sign
Before
Wheelwright street, 1946 — Parked cars, hillside trees and a company-town street brought back in colour
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1946 company store colorized, with red shelving, bright product labels and warm interior lightAfterAI-processed
Black-and-white 1946 photograph inside the U.S. Coal and Coke company store in Wheelwright, Kentucky
Before
Company store, 1946 — A Wheelwright, Kentucky store interior, colorized with vivid shelves and warm counter light
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Amoy portrait repaired, colorized and face-protected with natural tonesAfterAI-processed
A scratched black-and-white glass-plate portrait of a seated woman in Amoy, China
Before
Amoy portrait, c.1867 — Scratched glass-plate portrait repaired and colorized while keeping the face intact
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Fortepan portrait repaired and colorized with natural skin tones and protected face detailsAfterAI-processed
A scratched black-and-white portrait of a young girl in front of a window from the Fortepan collection
Before
Girl, 1971 — Scratched Fortepan portrait cleaned, colorized and kept natural around the face details
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1940 picnic colorized: green grass, denim overalls and warm afternoon lightAfterAI-processed
Black-and-white 1940 photograph of a father and five children eating barbecue on the grass beside parked cars
Before
Fair-day picnic, 1940 — A homesteader and his children at the Pie Town, New Mexico fair — barbecue plates on the grass
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1970 Tokyo street colorized, with natural signage, cars and skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1970 photograph of a Tokyo street with cars and shop signs
Before
Tokyo street, 1970 — A 1970 Tokyo street, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1965 family photo colorized, with 1960s clothing colours and warm skin tonesAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1965 family photograph gathered around a birthday cake
Before
Family photo, 1965 — A 1965 family gathering, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Alpine photochrom with its colour revived — a green valley beneath snow-capped peaksAfterAI-processed
A faded 1890s photochrom of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps
Before
The Bernese Alps — An 1890s photochrom of the Eiger, colour revived
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Mount Robson landscape with restored colour — snow, blue sky and autumn treesAfterAI-processed
A faded colour photograph of a snow-capped mountain and an autumn forest road
Before
Mount Robson — A faded mountain landscape, colour restored
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1944 victory parade colorized: olive uniforms, summer trees and the Arc de TriompheAfterAI-processed
Black-and-white 1944 photograph of American troops marching 24-abreast down the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe
Before
Paris, 29 August 1944 — The US 28th Infantry Division marching down the Champs-Élysées, days after the Liberation
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1953 Javanese wedding colorized, with rich batik reds and goldsAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1953 photograph of a Javanese wedding couple in traditional dress
Before
Javanese wedding, 1953 — A 1953 Javanese wedding, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1961 railway scene colorized, with natural metal, foliage and skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1961 photograph of an electric train at a railway changeover
Before
Railway, 1961 — A 1961 railway scene, colorized

More of what it can do

Colourise, restore faded colour, repair damage and straighten photos taken at an angle — every pair is a real result. Drag any slider.

Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1957 wedding portrait colorized, with warm skin tones and a white dressAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1957 Italian wedding portrait of a bride and groom
Before
Italian wedding, 1957 — A 1957 Italian wedding portrait, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same mountain valley colorized, with warm light, green forest and a soft skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white photograph of a forested mountain valley at dusk
Before
Mountain valley — A monochrome mountain valley, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same 1946 military portrait colorized, with an olive uniform, insignia and medal ribbonsAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white 1946 official portrait of General George C. Marshall in uniform
Before
General Marshall, 1946 — A 1946 official military portrait, colorized
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same family photograph repaired and colorized, with warm, lifelike tonesAfterAI-processed
A damaged and faded black-and-white photograph of the Wallin family
Before
The Wallin family — A cracked, faded family photo restored
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same Riga street around 1900, colorized with warm building tones and a soft skyAfterAI-processed
A black-and-white photograph of Vaļņu iela in Riga around 1900
Before
Old Riga, Vaļņu iela — A c.1900 Riga street brought to life in colour
Use the left and right arrow keys to compare the before and after images.The same London street with its perspective rectified and colour restoredAfterAI-processed
A 1979 London street photograph shot at an oblique angle with faded colour
Before
Angled scan, corrected — A photo taken at an angle — perspective corrected and colour restored

How it works

Three simple steps. No editing skills needed.

  1. 1

    1. Upload your photo

    Drag in a single photo, a whole folder, or even a .zip. We accept JPG, PNG and more.

  2. 2

    2. We restore it

    Our AI adds natural, warm colour — and can improve faces, straighten a crooked scan or repair scratches when you ask it to.

  3. 3

    3. Download in HD

    Preview for free, then download a crisp, watermark-free full-resolution image — your first one is free.

Privacy first

Your memories stay yours

We built Recolor the Past for families, not for data harvesting. Your photos are processed securely in the EU, are never used to train AI models, and are deleted automatically. You're always in control.

  • Processed in the EU

    All uploads and processing happen on European servers under GDPR.

  • Never used for training

    Your images are used only to produce your result — never to train models.

  • Automatic deletion

    Files are removed automatically after processing, and you can delete them sooner.

  • You stay in control

    Delete any image from your account whenever you like, no questions asked.

Try it free, pay only for the photos you love

Start with a free watermarked preview. Your first full-resolution photo is free — after that, simple credit packs that never expire.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. You can preview a colorized version of your photo for free — no sign-up needed. Previews carry a small watermark. You only pay when you download a full-resolution, watermark-free image — and your first one is free.