How obsessive artists colorize old photos

It’s harder than you think.

Photo colorization isn’t just coloring within the lines — it requires meticulous research to make sure that every detail is historically accurate. The color of military uniforms, signs, vehicles, and world fashion spanning decades needs to be accounted for before even opening digital software like Photoshop. That means digging through sources like diaries, government records, old advertisements, and even consulting historical experts to get the colors right.

Once the research is done, the black-and-white image is restored to its original state by carefully cleaning up the cracks and scratches it picked up over the years. Hundreds of layers of color are then added and blended together. Complex elements like human skin sometimes need up to 20 layers of color to simulate blood flow.

Mads Madsen

But even after the arduous research, restoration, and blending of color, the image still isn’t finished. In order to achieve true photorealism, the physics of how light works in the atmosphere needs to be taken into account. Colors look different depending on the lighting conditions when the photo was taken, so artists rely on shadows and the location of light to make an educated guess about the time of day in a black-and-white photo.

Patty Allison

Apart from the fact that these are fun to look at, colorized photos literally give us a new perspective on history. Seeing black-and-white images in color brings certain details to life that would otherwise be missed. This sense of immediacy is why these images feel more relatable. Watch the video above to learn more about the intricate craft of colorization and the ways it can change our understanding of history.