Bring Your Black And White Photos To Life With ChatGPT: Step-By-Step Guide
Forget those AI Ghibli-style portraits—there’s a new wave in town, and it’s pure nostalgia. From Barbie avatars to human-like pets, AI image trends are all the rage. But the latest obsession? Giving black and white family photos a vibrant new life with ChatGPT.
What started as a fun experiment—asking ChatGPT to turn photos into dreamy anime art—has now taken a heartwarming turn. The current viral trend focuses on colouring old photos—especially treasured portraits of parents, grandparents, and family moments from decades ago. From 1940s studio portraits to wedding photos from the '70s, people are watching their monochrome memories turn into rich, colour-filled keepsakes.
How to Colour Your Old Photos with ChatGPT
All you need is a clear black and white photo and a simple, smart prompt. Here's a go-to prompt to get you started:
“Convert this black and white photo into a naturally colorised version that looks like an authentic colour photograph.”
Want better accuracy? Add details like:
- This is my parents' wedding photo from the 1970s. Please keep the colours as natural as possible.
- Accurately capture skin tones, eye colour, and textures, especially for portraits.
- Ensure the lighting and colours are historically accurate for the era of the photo.
- Preserve the original details, textures, and contrast from the black and white version.
- Avoid over-saturation, filters, or any noticeable AI artefacts.
- For outdoor or street scenes, use realistic tones for the sky, plants, fabrics, and architecture.
- Create a balanced, realistic colour palette with gentle enhancements that maintain the original atmosphere.
Quick Steps to Bring Your Photos to Life:
- Open ChatGPT – Use the app or web version that supports image uploads.
- Find a black and white photo – Make sure it's clear and not too damaged.
- Upload the image – Drop it into the chat window.
- Type your prompt – You can use the basic one or add personal details.
- Wait a few seconds – ChatGPT will process and return a colourised version.
- Download your result – Save it and share it with your family!
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
While the results can be beautifully moving, they may not be 100% perfect. Slight colour mismatches or AI artefacts might pop up here and there. Also, it’s important to note: this is colourisation, not restoration. The original quality of the photo remains—ChatGPT just adds a thoughtful layer of colour based on context and prompts.