There is a new Image mode propagating on the internet, which could bring a new life to these dusty shoe boxes and these family albums. Chatgpt users have discovered that the AI assistant can take old photos and imitate a restored colorized version.
I saw it for the first time discussed on a Reddit thread, which was initially skeptical about the catering catering capacity for a good reason.
The AI was much more likely to take an old head and “restore” it by making a head of someone who could be the person’s cousin in the original photo. Thanks to the advice shared by others on Reddit and Instagram on how to do it properly, I tinkered an invite that makes it a very good job.
The prompt on which I settled is: “Please high-end and color this photo while keeping it faithful to the period. Do not change the arrangement, expressions, background or hold; add only the color and details of the period. The new photo must superimpose the original.”
It is not really a question of restoring the image, but you could consider it as a recreation by an art scorer with a modernist sequence. The results are in color, with better resolution, any repaired damage and even some lost details are reimaging.
Again, it is important to remember that it is not the same as improving the real photo, but it is fun, and certainly seems less problematic than to slide the style of the Ghibli studio.
To test the trend, I pulled some photos from the public domain of the Congress Library, which is really an incredible resource. Discover some of the results below.
Restoration of the Rugueux Cavalier
The first is President Theodore Roosevelt. The photo catches Teddy in the middle of a writing session at his office. The office has a large plate and, throughout time, a carafource of alcohol with glasses. After Chatgpt has done his job, you can see beautiful details and colors.
Now all these details are not correct. Hand positions, a chair arm, a radio replaced by what looks like a large candle, and much more. However, he managed to capture a large part of the man himself.
Bike to the future
Then came the bicycle delivery man. Again, the person looked like the original. The original photo was already alive, with puddles of water in a street that is clearly dirty. The colorized version decided that it meant that the street had a nice hardwood floor for any reason.
Despite this, the panel on the building behind the cyclist, as well as the crowd in the background, all really pop. He even managed to reflect the bike on the ground.
Soda.
Going forward in time a bit is this soda. A happy man smiling while putting back what I can only suppose is an egg cream or a root beer float with the flair of a Broadway actor playing “Guy who loves Seltzer”.
Chatgpt delivered a restored version that nailed his face and his expression, not to mention the bow tie. Of course, the hair is a little extinct, and I do not know how appetizing the modern drink, but it seems that he likes his work in the black vacuum behind the counter.
Iter, iter, iterer
Then came the two police officers in their long coats and their large hats. I guess the serious mustaches were part of the uniform. The colorized version has given life to its uniforms with deep navy blue tones and brass buttons that shine practically.
The officers are a little larger than their black and white counterparts, with a slightly better size, but it is a photo that belongs to the same application portraits of the law.
Mr. Mustache
Speaking of mustaches, this is the real star of the last photo. You hardly even notice the gentleman behind. It’s not just facial hair, it’s architecture. The restored version has slightly cleaned the stray hair, but if not, it was the most impressive result.
The face, the haircut, the coat and even the fold in the shirt are there. Each hair is crisp, and wherever it heads, I would like to see the rest of the hair salon quartet.
