If you’ve spent much time sifting through collections of vintage photographs, no doubt you’ve seen samples of the hand-crafted art of photo colorization. For many decades, various techniques were used to colorize parts of all of a photographic image. When done well, the process created a rich, high-end look that stands the test of time. It is possible to digitally apply these effects to images today, but there’s something about these old photos that make them heirlooms.

As you will see in the gallery below, samples from our photo archive vary in sophistication. Some look almost like watercolor paintings, others like pastels and some appear to be airbrushed.

Marvin R. Treutel, circa 1938.

Helen E. Northcott

The colors used on this image are brighter than most in our collection.

Skin tones were the focus on this portrait. Pictured are Laura Mulqueen, David C. Hanneman and Joe Hanneman.

Most of this photograph of Charles F.C. Hanneman was hand tinted.

This U.S. Marine Corps portrait of Earl J. Mulqueen Jr. looks like colored pencil.

David D. Hanneman’s Boy Scouts uniform, as well as the surrounding grass, received tinting.

Lynne and Richard Hanneman, children of Wilbert G. and Irma Hanneman.

The roses in this bridal portrait of Ruby V. Hanneman were tinted. This digital restoration punched up the colors from the now-faded original from 1925.

This Hanneman family vacation portrait was somewhat clumsily done, with colors spilling onto skin and other areas. At front and center is David D. Hanneman. In the back are Donn G. Hanneman, Ruby V. Hanneman, Carl F. Hanneman and baby Lavonne M. Hanneman. Photo circa 1940.

©2016 The Hanneman Archive