A growing trend among ChatGPT users is breathing new life into old photographs by using the AI assistant to create restored and colourised versions of vintage images. This novel approach has caught attention on social media platforms such as Reddit and Instagram, where users share tips and experiment with prompts to achieve more faithful recreations of historical photos.

Tech Radar recently explored this developing fad, noting that initial attempts often led to AI interpretations that resembled relatives or lookalikes rather than exact restorations. With refinement, users have crafted specific prompts to guide the AI more precisely. One effective prompt used reads: “Please upscale and colourise this photo while keeping it faithful to the time period. Do not change the arrangement, expressions, background, or attire; only add period-accurate colour and details. The new photo should overlay the original exactly.”

The technique does not enhance the original photograph in a traditional sense but rather reimagines it by adding colour, repairing damage, increasing resolution, and recreating some lost details with a modern artistic interpretation. The result is akin to a historically sensitive recreation rather than a strict restoration.

To test this method, Tech Radar utilised public domain photographs sourced from the Library of Congress — a vast archive of historical imagery — and applied the AI prompt to various iconic subjects:

  • President Theodore Roosevelt is shown in a candid writing session at his desk, complete with period-typical items such as a liquor decanter with glasses. The AI-generated image highlights fine details and introduces colours, though some elements like hand positioning and objects such as a candle replacing a radio differ. Despite this, the essence of Roosevelt’s likeness is effectively captured.

  • A photograph of a bicycle delivery boy on a wet street is transformed with surprising colours, although the AI replaced the muddy street with what appears to be a hardwood floor. Nonetheless, features such as the sign behind the bicyclist and the background crowd stand out vividly, including a reflection of the bicycle on the surface.

  • Another example is a soda jerk from a mid-20th century soda fountain scene. The AI enhancement preserves the cheerful expression, distinct bow tie, and overall character, although some aspects like the hair and the modern appearance of the drink differ slightly from the original mood.

  • A vintage picture of two policemen in formal coats and tall hats benefits from colourisation that brings navy blue and brass details to life. The AI interpretation gives the uniform better tailoring and a slightly taller stature to the officers, maintaining the spirit of the original law enforcement portrait.

  • Finally, a close-up photo highlighting a man’s prominent moustache impressively retains the intricate details of the facial hair and features. The AI-created image cleans stray hairs subtly but largely leaves the portrait faithful to the original’s composition, evoking a sense of period accuracy.

Tech Radar observed that although the AI recreation occasionally alters small details inaccurately, the outcome generally reflects a creative blend of historical fidelity and enhanced visual presentation. This method provides a way to visualise old photos in modern colour and clarity, contributing a fresh perspective to archival images without altering the original photographs themselves.

Source: Noah Wire Services