AI + Hand-Painted Colorization

Breathe Color Back Into Forgotten Film

From silent-era reels to 1960s home movies, our expert colorists hand-grade every frame with historical accuracy. Watch your grandparents dance in living color — restored, remastered, and ready for the big screen.

1,200+
Films Colorized
16.7M
Colors Per Pixel
98%
Accuracy Verified
Black and white film
1952 · B&W
Colorized film
COLORIZED · 4K
AI + Artist
Hybrid workflow
Era Research
Historically accurate
Colorist working on film

"They restored my grandfather's WWII footage. I cried when I saw his actual eye color for the first time."

— Martha K., Virginia
About Our Craft

Colorization is Part Science, Part Storytelling

Adding color to a black & white frame isn't about guessing. It's about researching military uniforms of 1943, studying paint catalogs of 1928 Ford Model A's, and matching skin tones to ethnographic photo references from the same region and decade.

Our team blends AI segmentation models (trained on 4 million color references) with traditional rotoscoping and hand-painted frames for a result no algorithm can achieve alone. Every project ships with a research document citing every historical source.

Historical Research

Every color backed by documentation.

Frame-by-Frame

Hand-painted precision on key shots.

AI Assisted

Deep-learning models for base layers.

4K Output

Broadcast-ready deliverables.

Colorization Methods

Four Distinct Workflows

Every project gets matched to the right technique based on footage condition, budget, and intended use.

AI-Driven Colorization

Neural networks analyze each frame and apply intelligent color based on 4M+ reference images. Ideal for bulk archival footage.

Best for: Long Reels

Hand-Painted Frames

Colorists meticulously rotoscope and paint every keyframe by hand. Used for feature films and museum-grade work.

Best for: Feature Film

Hybrid Workflow

Our signature method: AI base layer + artist refinement on faces, fabric, and skies. The perfect balance of speed and soul.

Best for: Documentary

Period-Accurate Grading

Historians on our team verify every color against decade-specific references — clothing, cars, architecture, flora.

Best for: Historical Works
Our Process

From Gray to Glorious in 6 Steps

A transparent workflow that combines restoration science, AI tools, and human artistry.

01

Ingest & Scan

4K/8K film scanning at 16-bit depth. Digital formats are conformed to uncompressed DPX sequences.

02

Clean & Restore

Remove dust, scratches, and gate weave first. Colorization starts only on a pristine black-and-white master.

03

Historical Research

Historians verify uniform colors, vehicle paints, textile dyes, and landscape palettes from the era.

04

AI Base Layer

Deep learning segments the frame into regions, applying era-accurate base colors across every shot.

05

Artist Refinement

Senior colorists hand-correct skin tones, eyes, clothing and hero elements for cinematic results.

06

QC & Delivery

Shot-by-shot review, broadcast QC, and delivery in ProRes, DPX, or DCP with full research documentation.

Before / After Gallery

See the Transformation

A glimpse from our recent restorations — hover any frame to reveal its colorized twin.

1940s portrait
1940s PORTRAIT
WWII Family Reel
16mm · 22 mins · Hybrid method
Vintage street
1955 STREET SCENE
Downtown Chicago
35mm · 7 mins · Hand-painted
Wedding footage
1962 WEDDING
The Hendersons' Day
8mm · 14 mins · AI + Artist
Documentary footage
1928 NEWSREEL
Great Depression
Nitrate · 45 mins · Period-accurate
Farm scene
1939 FARMLAND
Dust Bowl Archive
16mm · 38 mins · Hand-painted
Jazz club
1948 JAZZ CLUB
Harlem Nights
35mm · 19 mins · Hybrid
Who We Serve

Colorization for Every Purpose

Whether it's one family reel or an entire studio archive, we handle it with equal care.

Family Archives

Home movies, reunions, weddings. Give your family heirlooms a second life.

Feature Films

Classic cinema re-releases in color for streaming and theatrical re-runs.

Documentaries

Historical footage that tells stories with new emotional impact.

Museums & Archives

Bulk digitization and colorization with verified research citations.

Educational

Classroom-ready colorized history reels for more engaging lessons.

Broadcast TV

Re-runs of vintage series in HD color with broadcast QC.

Biographies

Personal tributes and memorial films brought vividly to life.

Military History

Veteran footage and war archives with era-accurate uniform colors.

Numbers That Tell Our Story

A decade of breathing color back into the world's memory.

4M+
Frames Colorized
1,200
Projects Delivered
12
Years of Craft
38
Countries Served
Tools & Technology

Industry-Grade Colorization Stack

From proprietary AI models to Hollywood-standard grading suites — all calibrated monthly.

ChromaNet AI

In-house neural net trained on 4M reference images from 1890–1990.

DaVinci Resolve Studio

Hollywood-grade grading suite with node-based color workflow.

DIAMANT-Film

Restoration toolkit for dust, scratches & stabilization pre-color.

Silhouette FX

Advanced rotoscoping for frame-accurate region masking.

Client Love

Real Stories, Real Emotions

"We sent them 3 hours of my father's 1950s Korea footage. What came back changed how my entire family remembers him. The sky in Pusan looked exactly like Dad described it."

Client
James Whitaker
Private Family Archive

"The research document alone was worth the cost. They cited military uniform archives for every shade of khaki. Our documentary air date was saved."

Client
Dr. Priya Nair
Director, BBC History

"ChromaFilm handled 240 reels from our museum collection. Turnaround was flawless and each color choice came with documented rationale. A dream vendor."

Client
Marcus Delacroix
Curator, Museum of Cinema
Simple Pricing

Choose Your Color Package

Every project starts with a free 10-second color test sample.

Essential

AI Colorization

Ideal for family memories & home videos.

$299 / 10 mins
  • AI-driven colorization
  • 1080p HD output
  • Basic noise reduction
  • 48h turnaround
  • 2 revisions
Get Started
Most Popular
Professional

Hybrid Workflow

Perfect for documentaries & broadcast.

$899 / 10 mins
  • AI + Artist refinement
  • 4K UHD output
  • Full restoration pass
  • 5-day delivery
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Research document
Choose Professional
Cinematic

Hand-Painted

Museum-grade for feature film.

$2,499 / 10 mins
  • Frame-by-frame painting
  • 8K DCP delivery
  • Historian review
  • Dedicated colorist
  • Dolby Vision HDR
  • Festival-ready master
Request Quote
FAQ

Questions, Answered

How historically accurate are the colors?

Every project includes research from period-specific archives: military uniform catalogs, automotive paint charts, regional textile records, and plant life documentation. For Professional and Cinematic tiers, a historian reviews and signs off on every shot.

Can you colorize very damaged or low-quality footage?

Yes — restoration always happens first. We remove scratches, stabilize gate weave, denoise, and upscale before any color work begins. Colorization on damaged frames without restoration produces inconsistent results, so it's included in every project.

Which file formats do you accept and deliver?

We accept 8mm, 16mm, 35mm film (raw or scanned), plus any digital format: MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, ProRes, DNxHD, DPX, EXR. We deliver in ProRes 4444, DNxHR HQX, DPX sequences, or DCP for theatrical runs.

How long does a typical project take?

AI-driven projects deliver in 48 hours. Hybrid workflows average 5–7 business days for 10 minutes of footage. Hand-painted cinematic work runs 2–4 weeks per 10 minutes depending on complexity. Rush timelines available on request.

Is my original footage safe?

Absolutely. We never alter your original masters. All work happens on digitized copies, with your source material stored in climate-controlled vaults and returned by insured courier. Encrypted cloud backups are maintained for the full project duration.

Do you offer a free sample before committing?

Yes — every new client receives a free 10-second colorized test sample from their footage. You'll see the quality before spending a cent. Most clients approve within 24 hours of reviewing their sample.

Free Color Sample in 24 Hours

Ready to See Your Memories in Living Color?

Send us a few seconds of your black & white footage. We'll colorize a free sample so you can see exactly what's possible — no commitment, no catch.

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Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Real feedback from businesses we have worked with.

“We've worked with many video editors, but Pro Pixel Agency stands out for their professionalism and consistently high-quality output. They understand our brand and deliver videos that resonate with our audience.”
Sarah Levine Founder, StyleVibes Media
“The team at Pro Pixel Agency doesn't just edit videos; they tell stories. Our event highlight video captured every precious moment perfectly. We've received countless compliments from attendees.”
Robert Kim Event Coordinator, Global Summit
“Pro Pixel Agency transformed our raw footage into a compelling brand story. Their attention to detail and creative vision exceeded our expectations. The video has become our most effective marketing tool.”
James Mitchell Marketing Director, TechCorp Solutions

Related services

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Guides

Why clients trust Pro Pixel

Try the work on your own files before you commit, and know what you'll pay before anything starts.

  • Free trial first

    Send a sample and see the result on your own material before you pay for anything.

  • Quote within 24 hours

    A personalized estimate for your project within a day, with the price agreed up front.

  • Satisfaction guarantee

    Every plan includes revision rounds, and our work is backed by a satisfaction guarantee.

  • Confidential by default

    Your files stay on secure systems, and we sign confidentiality agreements on request.

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