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Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Occupation Detailed Description

Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

The main tasks and work activities of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators are to operate photographic developing or print production equipment, inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality, load materials into production equipment, immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions. In general, for the Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators, operation Monitoring, active Listening, quality Control Analysis, service Orientation and other 9 skills are required.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees 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.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators jobs. 84.07% of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 2.06% of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.28%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
84.07%
Post-Secondary Certificate
2.06%
Some College Courses
7.66%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.74%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
5.19%

Tasks and Work Activities of Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

  • Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
  • Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs.
  • Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
  • Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes.
  • Insert processed negatives and prints into envelopes for delivery to customers.
  • Load circuit boards, racks or rolls of film, negatives, or printing paper into processing or printing machines.
  • Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
  • Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
  • Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
  • Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions.
  • Operate machines to prepare circuit boards and to expose, develop, etch, fix, wash, dry, or print film or plates.
  • Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
  • Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.
  • Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines.
  • Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
  • Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.
  • Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together.
  • Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects.
  • Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
  • Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Operate photographic developing or print production equipment.
  • Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
  • Load digital images onto computers or websites.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Operate digital imaging equipment.
  • Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Apply decorative coloring to photographs or printed materials.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Active ListeningGiving 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.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Paint brushese.g. Artists' brushes
  • Offset film processorse.g. Automatic photo printers
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. Barcode scanners
  • Film splicerse.g. Cement splicers
  • Laboratory stirring rodse.g. Chemical stirrers
  • Colorimeterse.g. Color testing equipment
  • Camera lense.g. Contrast filters
  • Laboratory beakerse.g. Darkroom beakers
  • Densitometerse.g. Darkroom densitometers
  • Hydrometerse.g. Darkroom hydrometers
  • Handheld thermometere.g. Darkroom thermometers
  • Clock timerse.g. Darkroom timers
  • Film splicerse.g. Daylight splicers
  • Developing trayse.g. Developing spirals
  • Digital camerase.g. Digital cameras
  • Offset film processorse.g. Digital minilabs
  • Scannerse.g. Drum scanners
  • Film drierse.g. Drying cabinets
  • Developing trayse.g. Film developing trays
  • Offset darkroom equipmente.g. Film pickers
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge 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 ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.