9 Simple Ways to Colorize Black and White Video [Desktop & Online]
- Last updated on 2025-02-25
Table Of Content
Introduction
Monochrome videos carry a nostalgic factor. But wouldn't it be great if we could colorize black and white video of our parents and maybe even our favorite Hollywood classics from the 50s? This tutorial will explore how to colorize black and white video using dedicated software and online utilities. Our goal is to show you how modern tools can offer readymade solutions within minutes, thanks to the power of AI. Keep reading to learn more about how to add color to black and white video.
Is It Possible to Colorize Black and White Video?
Colorizing black-and-white videos can be traced back to the early days of filmmaking. Initially, the process involved hand-painting directly onto the film. This technique was used for early movies like The Kingdom of the Fairies & The Miracle. Technological advancements have simplified the process, allowing digital painting of images to colorize black and white video layer by layer. Today, professional video editors and AI-powered tools enable us to add color to black and white video quickly and accurately, evoking a sense of excitement and nostalgia as viewers see history in a new light.
How to Colorize Black and White Video on Windows and Mac
Do you need to colorize black and white video every now and then? Having dedicated software to add color to black and white video can make the task easier. You don’t have to depend on the availability of the internet and can turn black and white video into color seamlessly, provided your system possesses the necessary hardware requirements. Let's take a look:
1. UniFab Video Colorizer AI
UniFab Video Colorizer AI is a power-packed program with various AI-automated functions and options to colorize black and white video. While using it, you can generate a specific frame reference from the video to try the 4 available colorization options. With high-precision AI algorithms, UniFab not only adds vibrant colors but also maintains the original artistic integrity of your footage. It provides the quickest, simplest, and most automatic video colorization options.
Supported Platforms: Windows & macOS
Key Features
✅Add realistic and uniform color to any old colorless footage with a few clicks automatically.
✅4 versatile, unique styles to add color to meet specific requirements.
✅You can try multiple preview options until you are satisfied with the output.
✅Using unified color mapping options, UniFab colorizes the entire video consistently to ensure the aesthetic of the video.
✅It gives an instant vibrant and attractive appeal to any boring and colorless video.
How to Colorize Black and White Video Using UniFab Video Colorizer AI
30-day Free Trial with full feature access!
You need to install and open the UniFab program on your computer > go to "All Features" and select the “colorizer” option from "Video AI". To import the video, hit the “+” option and upload the black-and-white video.
Click "Capture" button, and then drag the imported video progress bar to select a video frame as a reference frame. You will use this reference frame to try the four available color styles and decide on your preferred one.
Once you select the reference frame with key colors, click on the “Generate” option. UniFab will automatically generate the 4 coloring styles for the same video frame, and you should select your preferred one.
Once you select the style, adjust the output position of the video and click on the “Start” option at the right below. The entire video will be colored according to your selected coloring style.
You can preview the output color effect by comparing it with the original black-and-white video. Next, export the colorized video by selecting the output quality, format, and more.
2. HitPaw Video Enhancer
HitPaw Video Enhancer uses AI technology to automatically colorize black and white video. This state-of-the-art software uses deep learning to enhance video colors and upgrade resolutions from 720p to 4K, supporting over 30 formats. HitPaw Video Enhancer excels at restoring damaged or unplayable videos, and its background removal and replacement features are both fast and seamless. With capabilities tailored for novice and experienced users, this versatile tool can restore your videos to its original quality while removing glitches and artifacts.
Supported Platforms: Windows & macOS
How to Colorize Black and White Video Using HitPaw
Download the Software
Start by downloading and installing HitPaw Video Enhancer on your computer.
Import Your Black & White Video
Upload the black-and-white video you want to enhance into the software.
Select an AI Enhancement Model
Choose from one of the three AI models designed to enhance your video.
Preview and Save Your Enhanced Video
Click on the Preview button to see the results. If you’re happy with the outcome, click Export to save the enhanced video to your computer.
Pros
You can save a lot of time while trying to colorize black and white video using its batch processing functionality.
The software is compatible with over 30 formats like MKV, AVI, and more.
A straightforward interface makes it easy to turn black and white video into color.
Cons
HitPaw Video Enhancer lacks an auto-save option; thus, all your progress might be lost on accidental device shutdown.
UniFab vs HitPaw on Colorizing Black and White Video
3. PixBim Video Colorize AI
Pixbim Video Colorize AI utilizes AI to transform black-and-white videos into vibrant color footage easily. This powerful program is designed for filmmakers, video editors, and enthusiasts who want to modernize old videos without hassle. All processing is done locally on your device, ensuring your content remains private and secure. With support for formats like MP4, MPEG, and MKV, Pixbim Video Colorize AI makes it simple to add color to your black-and-white videos.
Supported Platforms: Windows & macOS
How to Colorize Black and White Video Using PixBim
Download and Install
Go to the official Pixbim AI Video Colorizer website. From here, you can download and install the software.
Import Your Video
Launch the program and click "Open" to select the black-and-white video you want to colorize.
Customize Settings
Adjust the settings for video quality or resolution to suit your preferences if necessary.
Initiate Colorization
Click the "Start" or "Convert" button to begin colorization. The software will automatically apply its algorithms to add color to your video.
Pros
Support a free trial and one-time purchase plan without any monthly or yearly subscription.
Explore complete control over the colorization process with pause and restart options.
Adjust or reduce red tones from any video depending on your choice using a dedicated Red tones slider.
It supports multiple file formats while fixing bugs.
Cons
Less frequent software updates and no update for two and half years.
Some of the previously updated versions don't work, and it often comes across with bugs.
Be prepared for a lengthy processing time in case of long videos.
How to Colorize Black and White Video Online
4. Neural.Love
Neural.love offers an AI feature that adds color to your black-and-white videos. Its user-friendly, web-based interface allows you to effortlessly turn black and white video into color online without any software installation. From old sports events and historical documents to old classic movies, it can colorize any video.
Supported Platforms: Web-based
How to Colorize Black and White Video Using Neural.Love
Visit the Neural.love Website
Navigate to the Neural.love website to start the colorization process.
Upload Your Black-and-White Video
Select and upload the black-and-white video you wish to colorize.
Let AI Do the Work
Neural.love’s AI algorithm will automatically analyze and add color to your video.
Download Your Colorized Video
Once the colorization is complete, download the colorized video to your device.
Pros
With cloud-based processing, you don't need any high-end system requirements.
Users can browse through a rich collection of tutorials and materials to colorize black and white video.
Multiple input & output file format support, including MOV, MP4, etc.
Fully secured and encrypted program that deletes all the uploaded files after 7 days.
Cons
It offers very less customization and personalized options with limited creative control.
Sometimes gives unnaturalistic output with only two output file format support.
Users have complained about a slow upload process.
5. HDConvert
Step into the past with this cutting-edge AI-driven platform to breathe new life into your old black-and-white videos. Get ready to experience a transformation that combines remarkable speed and accuracy, preserving the essence of your historical footage with lossless quality. With HD clarity and enhanced visuals, you’ll relive the magic of the past in vibrant, modern colors. An intuitive interface makes colorization effortless, while diverse format support and lossless encoding guarantee the highest quality results.
Supported Platforms: Web-based
Visit the HDconvert Website
Navigate to the HDconvert website to start the video colorization process.
Initiate the Colorization
Click the 'Colorize Video with AI' button to colorize black and white video.
Upload Your Files
Add video files from your local storage or select from previously uploaded files.
Set Output Preferences
Click Next to choose your preferred output format and adjust the quality settings.
Adjust Additional Settings
Modify any extra settings, such as removing the audio track, before starting the colorization.
Pros
Colorize black and white video without any file size limitations in HD quality.
Compatible with various formats including MKV, MP4, MOV, and more.
Users can customize the audio & video codecs & bitrates.
Cons
Compromised output results in artificial-looking colors without having any control over the output.
There are issues in processing videos.
There are limitations on file size in the free version.
6. Kolorize
To know how to colorize black and white video on online platforms, the Kolorize video colorizing tool is the most trending one. To ensure the flexibility and compatibility of your colorized video on multiple platforms and devices. This colorize black and white video online free tool provides major formats support. It lets you colorize copy-protection-free videos, and this is a safe tool to use with standard encryption.
Pros
Completely AI automated tool with simple drag & drop video uploading option.
Get the most realistic output with natural appeal and vibrant color.
It provides distinct colorization to different objects of the video, such as the main object, background, facial features, etc.
Four significant formats are supported, such as WEBM, AVI, MOV, MP4, etc.
There is no extra cost to download the output colorized video.
Cons
Credit-based tool costs 1 credit for each 100 video frames.
The time-consuming colorization process takes around an hour to colorize 5-minute video.
7. Editingtools.io
In the list of colorize black and white video online tools, Editingtools.io is the simplest one to use. The best part of this tool is that you don't have to take any continuous subscription plan. Instead, this is a credit-based program, and you should pay only for what you use. This tool can colorize B&W video within a few seconds, no matter how old the footage is.
Pros
Most common video formats are provided, including AVI, MOV, MP4, MXF, etc.
It can handle video file sizes up to 2 GB.
This auto colorize video tool uses a DeOldify AI algorithm trained with millions of real photos.
Video quality selection option with standard & low-resolution.
Cons
There are only 7 video file formats that support.
It has file size limitations.
8. Pickfrom
PickForm is a convenient turn black and white video into color online free without downloading, installation, or registration hassle. It supports the most common and universal video file format, MP4, as input file format. You can customize the colorized output video by selecting your desired resolution and setting output formats. Enjoy previewing the output result before finally downloading it to cloud storage.
Pros
Colorize video on any device or platform, including Windows, Mac, Android, & iOS.
This is a cloud-based program with full AI automation.
Easy-to-use program without needing any video editing skill.
Safe tool with encryption to protect your data.
You can use this tool using any web browser such as Chrome, Opera, Firefox, etc.
Cons
Very few video file formats support.
Very ordinary output with any manual adjustment function.
9. Ai4Video.co
To look for the colorize black and white video online free tool, Ai4video.co is a very promising one. You can use the free version of this tool, or you can go for the paid plans. It ensures the privacy of your data using proper encryption.
Pros
Online & automatic tool without requiring installation or registration compulsion.
Enjoy batch colorization of thousands of videos in one go with cloud GPU server support.
It adds the most naturalistic and realistic color to any black & white video.
While colorizing, you can upscale resolution and increase FPS at the same time.
Cons
Average quality colorization output.
No customization or control over colorization.
Conclusion
The video colorizer tools highlighted here offer an incredible way to colorize black and white video & breathe new life into your old videos. Whether you are a professional user who regularly has to add color to black and white video or simply looking for a one-time gig, our combined suggestions of desktop software and online tools can have your back. Among these tools, UniFab Video Colorizer AI gives you the maximum freedom and flexibility to colorize black and white video with the best quality and most realistic color.
FAQs
Can black-and-white films be colorized?
Yes, black-and-white films can be brought to life with color using modern AI technology. UniFab Video Colorizer AI makes this process seamless by automatically analyzing and applying realistic colors to each frame. This helps to improve old movie quality, making classic films more vivid and engaging while preserving their original details.
Is it possible to colorize black-and-white photos with AI?
Definitely! An AI-powered tool allows you to easily add vibrant, realistic colors to your black-and-white photos.
How To Select The Ideal Video Colorizer Tool?
When selecting a tool to colorize black and white video, ensure it’s compatible with your hardware and allows manual adjustments for sharpness, skin tone, and brightness. Look for a tool with a user-friendly interface for a smooth, enjoyable experience and easy sharing with other creators. Choose a feature-rich AI colorizer that includes options for noise reduction, resolution upscaling, and clarity improvement, and consider the cost. If a free option isn't sufficient, explore ones with trial periods.