Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

What does a professional in this career do?

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

In this job you will...

• Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
• Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
• Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
• Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
• Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
• Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
• Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
• Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
• Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
• Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.
• Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs.
• Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.
• Load circuit boards, racks or rolls of film, negatives, or printing paper into processing or printing machines.
• Insert processed negatives and prints into envelopes for delivery to customers.
• Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together.
• Clean or maintain photoprocessing or darkroom equipment, using ultrasonic equipment or cleaning and rinsing solutions.
• Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions.
• Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
• Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes.
• Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers.
• Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity.
• Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, or other changes required for retouching or restoration.
• Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines.
• Upload digital images onto Web sites for customers.
• Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production.
• Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels.
• Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects.