A 2D medical image is colorized. In one approach, a deep-learnt classifier is trained to colorize from color 2D medical images. The color 2D medical images for training are cinematically rendered from slabs to add color. In another approach, a deep machine-learnt generator creates slices as if adjacent to the 2D medical image. The slices and 2D medical image form a slab, which is cinematically rendered to add color. The result is a colorized 2D medical image.