Gemini already had a powerful built-in image generation model that could edit real photos with text prompts. Nano Banana makes it even easier, bringing new abilities to Gemini. The new AI model’s main feature is character permanence. You can upload a photo of yourself to the AI and tell Gemini to create an avatar of you. The AI won’t change your face, and the resulting images will look like real photos. Nano Banana can also combine photos of people and pets to create new images; it can swap objects in photos, like clothes; and it can fill in new furniture without changing the room’s original design.
Colorizing black-and-white photos seems like the simplest task you could give an advanced AI model like Nano Banana, and that’s what Bressane did. Below, you’ll find some of the samples he obtained after feeding Gemini old photos and asking the AI to give him color options.
Migrant Mother – 1936
1/ INSANE (LONG) THREAD.
Nano Banana 🍌 for photo restoration and colorization.
Nothing has ever been like this before. I spent countless hours working on photo restoration and colorization solutions long before AI was a thing. Nothing compares to this. Truly remarkable…. pic.twitter.com/HBFN4WwTw1
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – 1971
2/ This is my absolute favorite. Take a look at how much life we can bring back to this iconic and incredible picture of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Windblown Jackie, 1971 pic.twitter.com/fy4cp7Oz1t
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Victory Day in Times Square – 1945
3/ This shot comes to life with colors and restoration. Pay attention to the details – all the elements on the floor are in place.
V-J Day in Times Square, 1945 pic.twitter.com/90Dy09vxNv
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Winston Churchill – 1941
4/ Here, Nano Banana does a remarkable job at restoring this iconic photo of Churchill. Incredibly natural, absolutely stunning.
Winston Churchill, 1941 pic.twitter.com/fU8P53XPW7
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Dovima With Elephants – 1955
5/ One of my favorite photos of all time, now in color.
Dovima With Elephants, Paris, 1955 pic.twitter.com/hzDbTaJnMU
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Lunch Atop A Skyscraper – 1932
6/ You have seen this photo so many times in your life, but you have never seen it this good.
Lunch Atop A Skyscraper, 1932 pic.twitter.com/WUl7FMuZxW
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki – 1945
7/ Stunning rendering of one of the darkest times in Earth’s history.
Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki, 1945 pic.twitter.com/4KMiTW1pR1
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
Flag Raising on Iwo Jima – 1945
8/ This shot disappointed me slightly; the flag appears too perfect, and the colors are overly saturated. Nevertheless, the result is still stunning
Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, 1945 pic.twitter.com/BDX5wTdruw
— Rodrigo Bressane (@bressane) August 26, 2025
