How to Colorize Black and White Photos

Colorizing old black and white photographs is a fascinating process.

Even the most stunning black and white photographs lack the depths and the character that colors can offer, which is why photo colorization service providers are growing increasingly popular each year.

However, with the advances in digital photo editing software, even casual users can now try their hand at colorizing black and white photographs from the comfort of their own home.

To help you get started with the process, let’s explore the most important steps involved so that you can achieve the best results possible.

Digitize the Photograph

Before you can start working on the photo on your computer, you will need to transfer it to a digital format. And since you’ll need a high-quality scanner to make sure that the image has a high resolution, you will first need to eliminate any dirt or dust that could obscure the image.

So, the first step of the process is to carefully clean each photograph that you want to work on from any debris, dirt, and dust. If the dirt isn’t hard to remove, you can just use compressed air and a lint free microfiber cloth, but make sure that you do a thorough job before scanning. For tougher stains and debris you can use photograph emulsion cleaning wipes.

Once your photo is clean, scan it at a minimum resolution of 600 DPI.

Clean the Image Digitally

Even though you have already cleaned the physical copy of the photograph, you still need to make sure that the digital version doesn’t have any imperfections as well.

If dust, creasing, or any other issues are still present, you can remove them using a software tool like Photoshop.

To start, zoom in to the problematic areas and use the cloning tool and the dust filtering option to fill in the spaces with nearby areas and make the image consistent.

Optimize the Image

To know how to add color to a black and white photo, you need to adjust the image’s contrast and tones so that they become more neutral and balanced.

That will make the task of adding colors much easier, as you won’t have to work against inconsistencies or sharp contrasts that can make the colors seem unnatural.

Add the Colors

At this point, the image is finally ready for the color additions. If you’re using Photoshop, the process isn’t that difficult once you get the hang of it.

By adding the Solid Color adjustment layer to various areas of your photo, you can insert a new color layer on top of the original one, and then clear the color overlay using a black layer.

Then, using the brush tool, you can adjust things like hardness, size, and sharpness of the colors, mixing and matching little details to make the entire photograph seem more natural.

Why a Professional Colorization Service Makes Sense

Even though you can use the above process to create pretty good results, it isn’t the only way to revitalize your old black and white photographs.

Today, professional photo scanning service are widely available and offer unparalleled quality in image colorization, providing you with top-quality results for an affordable price.

What’s more, this way you don’t have to pay for expensive Photoshop software, spend days or even weeks learning how to use it, or dealing with mediocre results until you become more proficient.

Smooth Photo Scanning has expert photo restoration specialists that can colorize black and white photos to give them a new life. Contact us today for a free consultation and quote.