Occupation Details
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
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.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$39,210.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$61,030.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$81,190.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
490
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
540
+5 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
84
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Artists' brushes
- Automatic photo printers
- Barcode scanners
- Cement splicers
- Chemical stirrers
- Color testing equipment
- Contrast filters
- Darkroom beakers
- Darkroom densitometers
- Darkroom hydrometers
- Darkroom thermometers
- Darkroom timers
- Daylight splicers
- Developing spirals
- Digital cameras
- Digital minilabs
- Drum scanners
- Drying cabinets
- Film developing trays
- Film pickers
- Film plates
- Film processing tongs
- Film refrigerators
- Film winders
- Flatbed scanners
- Hand mixers
- Infrared goggles
- Infrared scanners
- Laser photo printers
- Leader cards
Technology
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- HeliconSoft Helicon Focus
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Word
- MongoDB
- MySQL
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- apply cleaning solvents
- load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
- assure quality control in printing processes
- compute production, construction, or installation specifications
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- test manufactured products or materials
- develop film or other photographic medium
- mix photographic chemicals
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- process photographic prints
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
- maintain production or work records
- attach or mark identification onto products or containers
- maintain records, reports, or files
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- determine film exposure settings
- distinguish details in graphic arts material
- identify color or balance
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- restore photographs
- retouch negatives or prints
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- clean equipment or machinery
- maintain consistent production quality
- perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- make independent judgment in assembly procedures
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- operate cameras
- use densitometer
- operate video recorders
- use hand or power tools
- operate graphic reproduction equipment
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- Operate machines to prepare circuit boards and to expose, develop, etch, fix, wash, dry, or print film or plates.
- Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes.
- 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.
- Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers.
- 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.
- Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity.
- Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions.
- Shade negatives or photographs with pencils to smooth facial contours, soften highlights, or conceal blemishes, stray hairs, or wrinkles.
- 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.
- Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
- Dry prints or negatives using sponges, squeegees, mechanical air dryers, or drying cabinets.
- Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production.
- Set automatic timers, lens openings, and printer carriages to specified focus and exposure times and start exposure to duplicate originals, photographs, or negatives.
- Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels.
- Apply paint, using airbrushes, pens, artists' brushes, cotton swabs, or gloved fingers to retouch or enhance negatives or photographs.
- Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More