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Nowadays, photographers use black and white photography to convey emotion by playing with tones, contrasts, and shadows, but it wasn't always an option to choose. Color photography brings photographs to life and reveals every little vivid detail that creates a compelling image. Photographers from the past could only convey the world they were living in in black and grey. Have you ever wondered what these photographers saw that very moment? I have.

Digital artists spend hours trying to recreate old black and white photographs in realistic colors with impressive results—just check the incredible work of colorists Marina Amaral, Andrea Erali, or Olga Shirinina previously featured on Bored Panda. It's intricate and time-consuming work that requires not only great editing skills, but a lot of knowledge and research of historical context to color the image as accurately as possible.

I wondered if, with the fast advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning, this scrupulous job can be done by technology as well as by humans. Well, only time can tell, but it seems like the future is near. I have found this image colorization API called DeepAI that allows you to colorize black and white photos and videos in a few seconds.

I tested the program with these iconic B&W images of celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood. The result is far from perfect and in most cases needs to be at least touched up in Photoshop or other programs, but I was surprised by how much a deep learning model can achieve!

More info: deepai.org

#1

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

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HappyPig1723
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks so happy! Not enough people actually appreciate her acting skills and her boss-lady'ness. (I know that isn't a word)

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I love all arts and entertainment. I have been drawing pencil portraits since I was a child, and later, I discovered digital art and started participating in several Photoshop contests. But I can't wait to see what technology can offer—that's why I explore what's new in the industry and try it myself. I have recently played with AI to see what the kids of famous ex-couples would have looked like.

I also regularly post articles on Bored Panda about the most amazing artists I come across, both world-class and aspiring, as well as animal stories. Putting their art in the spotlight makes me proud and inspired. Check out some of the recent posts I made here, here, and here.

#3

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman

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Justin G
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That globe doesn’t even have the countries on it ... it just says AFRICA

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#5

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball

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Danni
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

she's so beautiful but what's going on with her feet? is that just a glitch in the photo or are they that damaged from walking in high heels? what these wonderful talented women had to suffer.

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#9

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren

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#10

Judy Garland

Judy Garland

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Sofia Cohn
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a pretty colored dress! It's a shame you couldn't see the color in the first.

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#12

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield

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GlassHalfWay
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful, talented woman with a beautiful and talented daughter.

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#13

Charlie Chaplin And Virginia Cherrill

Charlie Chaplin And Virginia Cherrill

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#15

James Dean

James Dean

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HappyPig1723
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Giving me country vibes. (If he was a country person don't judge me I'm only 12)

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#19

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando

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BeazleBug
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice to see the real Brando. Everyone seems to only remember fat Brando.

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#20

Bette Davis

Bette Davis

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#22

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich

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izzy.kitsune
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

both versions are nice, but it feels like the actual mood shifts in the transition i love it

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#26

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston

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Cathy Jo Baker
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Classy, classy, classy! He came to Indiana to visit the Lew Wallace Study and Museum (where Wallace wrote Ben-Hur) many years ago! (I had to mention that because the pic seems to be from that movie. Movie is good (the 1959 one) but the novel is wonderful!

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#28

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

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Demongrrrrl
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone says he was such an amazing dancer, but Ginger Rogers did everything he did, in heels and backwards.

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