A 2D medical image is colorized. In one approach, a deep-learnt classifier is trained (20) to colorize from color 2D medical images. The color 2D medical images for training (20) are cinematically rendered (16) from slabs to add color. In another approach, a deep machine-learnt generator creates (34) slices as if adjacent to the 2D medical image. The slices and 2D medical image form a slab, which is cinematically rendered (36) to add color. The result is a colorized 2D medical image.