Colorizing black-and-white family photos — what to expect

How accurate are the colors?

A black-and-white photo does not record color, so every colorization is an informed reconstruction. Skin, sky, grass and wood are usually very natural. Clothing, cars and wallpaper could have been many colors — we choose colors that were common in that era unless you tell us otherwise.

Tell us what you know

The best results come from family memory. In the order notes, write things like:

• eye and hair color (“Grandpa had blue eyes and red hair”),
• the color of a uniform, a wedding dress or a favorite coat,
• the color of the house or the car.

When to leave it black and white

Very old portraits (1860s–1920s) and memorial photos often look more dignified in black and white. A good restoration in the original tone is never a lesser choice. You can also order both.

What you receive

A colorized, restored, full-resolution file, and you see a preview first — if a color is wrong, tell us and we change it for free.