How to pre-process black and white photo in image editing software to get the best result from Pixbim Color Surprise AI.

You can use Irfanview, which is free, or any other image editor to get a better black and white photo before putting it through ColorSurprise AI.

Using Irfanview as Image Editor (Irfanview is free but does lacks complex features)

Two approaches are mentioned below Choose only one. Pixbim prefer the Gamma Correction approach.

1. Increasing Gamma.

Increase Gamma to 1.5 (preferred) or 2.0 (on some dark images 2.0 gives a better colored results).

To change gamma in Irfanview, load an image in Irfanview and then go to “Image” at the top menu bar and then click “Color corrections”, move the “Gamma correction” slider and view the photo it shows in the new window and then press “OK”. Save the image so now you have a better black and white photo.
Now send this Gamma corrected black and white photo to ColorSurprise AI.

2. Increasing Contrast and Brightness

Contrast should be good on black and white photo (around 50 seems to be a preferred one). To change contrast in Irfanview, load an image in Irfanview and then go to “Image” at the top menu bar and then click “Color corrections”, move the contrast slider and view the photo it shows in the new window.

Brightness should be good on black and white photo (around 50 seems to be a preferred one). To change brightness in Irfanview move the Brightness slider and view the photo it shows in the new window.
Press “OK” and then save the image so now you have a contrast increased and brightness adjusted black and white photo.

Using other Image Editor

When processing the JPG image, use a photo application to remove noise, scratches etc that might skew ColorSurprise. Crop frames or background (eg photo album or kitchen table) for the same reason.
For quick results, Pixbim have found that the auto-adjust in Irfanview option gives a good B&W image, sometimes better than fiddling with levels and contrast adjustments

Below are some of the important points to get a best quality digital black and white photo from existing black and white printed photos

You will probably be taking digital shots of an existing B&W print to input photo into Pixbim ColorSurprise AI.
It is important to get the best quality JPG image (this is lossy a compression) or PNG image(preferred).
Ideally, set up a tripod to get the sharpest photo of the print possible, which should be on a neutral background.
Take the shot in daylight to avoid color casts that might skew the ColorSurprise algorithm.
Save the image as the highest quality JPG possible or PNG. Those preliminary steps will result in the best starting point for processing the digital image in ColorSurprise AI.

This useful and fun software is still available of at the price of US$39.99 plus if you use my discount code you get an additional discount.
Go to https://pixbim.com/color-surprise-ai-pixbim and enter the code KATINCSAI20 for a discount