The Algorithmia website offers free online auto black and white photo coloring online using an automated algorithm.
If you have old black and white photos of your grandparents, then the Algorithmia website is worth a try. You will find a free, online service that uses an algorithm, capable of adding color to black and white images. The method of use is very easy. Paste a URL into the box or upload an image, wait some time for the processing to finish and you will see the colored result.
The service displays a comparative image with half being the original black and white and the other half colored. Drag the vertical purple line to display more or less colored parts of the image to see how it will look before you download it.
Processed images can be downloaded either as a comparison image, or as a full color image. And the two features will have a watermark in the lower right corner. Downloading the comparison image will show the image with the purple line. Move the purple line before downloading the comparison image to get the percentage coverage you want. The default is half original image and half color image.
The service is not perfect and can produce some interesting and unusual results. Sometimes it takes a little while to process the images, It can even reach 15 seconds. Although it always depends on your internet connection.
Overall results tend to be sepia - yellow, especially when the algorithm does not recognize something. Of course it is not a serious one tool image coloring, such as what you will find in an advanced graphics program. There are no options to make adjustments to colors or areas of the image, but it's a fun tool that won't tire you and the results often look good.
There is an interesting note from Algorithmia where it states that the service will color either one side of the image or the other depending on the browser you are using. Firefox based browsers have the colored effect on the left side of the image. Browsers with base Chromium shows the color effects of the image on the right.
You can try out any of the five sample images to see how the service works before you pick up one of your own images.
Paint the photos with the Algorithm algorithm from here.
