2016.08.18

Reproduction "Shibuya of the old days" is a color photograph in artificial intelligence!

This spring, Hiroshi Ishikawa professor of Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering, Satoshi Iizuka Research Institute Assistant Professor, research group of Shimosera Edgar Research Institute Assistant Professor et al., The application of AI (artificial intelligence) technology, to color the "black-and-white photos in the automatic method It announced that it has established. " It attracted much attention as an innovative technology in such as a web news.

From a large amount of a set of black-and-white-color image, using the learning function of artificial intelligence that is a feature that becomes a clue of coloring referred to as the "deep learning", technology that converts the black-and-white image on the color image. Either outdoors or outdoors, from such global feature or noon or night, apply it to colorize if to local features, such as whether the sand or leaves or waterAn equivalent or AI is guess, but so do the natural color pickled suited to the situation automatically.

Technical description, please confirm the following.

Yes Waseda University news article:This direction
Yes detailed research results:This direction
The ※ source code of the color conversion by the same study, are public GitHub.
Source code:Https://github.com/satoshiiizuka/siggraph2016_colorization

By using the source code that is open to the public, anyone can convert a black-and-white photos to color photography, very great. That said, I can not do anything is without any knowledge of programming. Therefore, in Web search, where the humble someone was examined with or not is me making a generator utilizing this source code, I discovered a @ mecab's is open to the public on the web site. The operation is very simple, when you upload a black-and-white photo that you want to convert on the browser, once the color image is displayed after conversion to gray scale. If there is no larger in size, and has a simple service called us to color of instantly. It is possible to color processed so interesting, I want to try by all means.

Web services using a public source code (@mecab)
Http://colorize.dev.kaisou.misosi.ru/

The first place photo is 1827, French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce invention by Mr.. Under the sunlight in that time day, because say that the exposure of even about 8 hours was required, photography was a big job. Then, announce the color film for movie rice Kodak in 1935. In addition to color photos were spread to the general home of Japan, around 1970, after the Osaka Expo. If you look at the album that remains in each household, until perhaps 1965 first half around, you will find that the black-and-white photographs are the majority. These past black-and-white photograph, if you were able easily colored (color) transformed by state-of-the-art technology, will be what on earth. Especially for young people, black and white photo that was dyed in sepia color, like the same as the world of movies and stories. I'm sure even in the landscape of the historic moment Ya well know the city, would be honest because not felt the reality approaching the body. If by the state-of-the-art technology, colored if the (colored) has been, 100 years ago, even half a century ago of the landscape and events, would not be able to realize more familiar.

So, it is the sister site of Shibuya cultural project "Shibuya Photo MuseumI think from the photo database of ", and some pick up the old days of the old Shibuya of photos, and I want to try to color processing using the same web service.

■ Color photo → gray scale conversion
First, in order to verify the quality of the color conversion, taken with a color photo of the "Hachiko" in the gray scale at a time, let's make sure its reproducibility.

■ Guresuke - Le → color conversion

Although the body parts of the pedestal and Hachiko is slightly greenish, well understood that you have a very high color reproducibility.

■ Let's reproduce the Shibuya of photos of the old days in color!

Improvement work proceeds of Toyoko Line Shibuya Station home of landscape (August 1961)The original image: black-and-white photo
Conversion after: photo was colored black-and-white in the automatic

Shibuya Toei completion (November 28, 1953)The original image: black-and-white photo
Color conversion image

Toyoko department store and the Toyoko Line Shibuya Station opened at that time (November 1934)The original image: black-and-white photo
Color conversion image

Ball electricity Shibuya Station Home (1965)The original image: black-and-white photo
Color conversion image

Rush Hour of Shibuya Station Home (1965)The original image: black-and-white photo
Color conversion photo

Reproduction of old photos Compared with color photos of the "Hachiko", somewhat pales to. Also, such as by light and shade of the resolution and gray scale of the black-and-white photos, it will probably greatly affect the reproducibility. Until the "reborn in vivid color photo" is not be said, but adds three-dimensional feeling to the black-and-white photo of a flat impression, certainly feel like emerge more image. The rooftops and at that time, it is mysterious because the people of life feeling can be felt more familiar. By all means looking for the old days of black-and-white photo shows the sleeping in the house, it will try to convert a color photo would be how.