Prepare the old photo
- Scan or photograph flat under even daylight, without glare. A phone scanner app works well.
- Crop to the faces — the face should fill at least a quarter of the frame.
- Black-and-white is fine. The animation keeps the original look; you can colorize separately if you like.
How to animate it
- Open the Living Photo style in the studio.
- Upload the scan.
- Keep the prompt gentle:
the person blinks, smiles softly and slightly turns toward the camera, natural and calm. - Choose 3:4 or 4:3 to match the print and generate.
Gentle prompts for old photos
smiles warmly and nods slightly, eyes look at the camerathe couple turns to each other and smiles, soft breezethe grandfather adjusts his hat and smiles, calm movement
Use it respectfully
Animating photos of loved ones who have passed away can be very moving, but it can also be emotional for relatives. Share with the family's agreement, and never present the animation as real historical footage.
Specs
| Spec | VideoAI |
|---|---|
| Price to start | Free — 1 AI video + 1 AI photo per new visitor, no card |
| Account / sign-up | Not required — works instantly in the browser |
| Input | One photo (JPG, PNG or HEIC) + an optional text prompt |
| Output | 5-second MP4 video at 720p, or an AI photo |
| Aspect ratios | 9:16, 1:1, 16:9, 3:4, 4:3 |
| Render time | About 90 seconds on average (1–3 minutes) |
| Ready-made styles | 22 video styles + 8 photo styles, or write your own prompt |
| Watermark | Small badge on free videos; removed with any paid pack |
| Paid options | One-time packs from $4.99 — no subscription, no auto-renewal |
| Platforms | Any modern browser on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, ChromeOS |
FAQ
Can AI animate old photos for free?
Yes. VideoAI gives each new visitor one free 5-second photo animation without sign-up.
Does it work with black-and-white photos?
Yes. Black-and-white and sepia photos animate well; the result keeps the original tones.
What resolution should the scan be?
Any clear scan works; aim for the face to be sharp and fill a good part of the frame.
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