Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

Photo Lab Technician (Photographic Laboratory Technician)
Photo Printer
Photo Specialist
Photo Technician

Alternate Job Titles

Air Brush Artist
Airbrush Artist
Art Tracer
Automatic Developer
Automatic Mounter
Automatic Print Developer
Black and White Printer Operator
Color Laboratory Technician
Color Printer Operator
Computer-Controlled Color Photograph Printer Operator
Copy and Print Associate
Copy Camera Operator
Darkroom Technician
Developer
Developing Machine Operator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

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.

Emerging Responsibilities

As this field evolves, you may also:

Adjust digital images using software.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Customer and Personal Service
Computers and Electronics

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Near Vision
Oral Comprehension
Visual Color Discrimination
Oral Expression
Written Comprehension
Flexibility of Closure
Control Precision
Deductive Reasoning
Information Ordering
Arm-Hand Steadiness

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Adaptability
Perseverance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Support
Independence
Relationships
Achievement
Working Conditions

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

Adobe Creative Cloud software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Amazon Web Services AWS software
Cascading style sheets CSS
Docker
Git
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel

Tools & Equipment

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

Work Environment

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Telephone Conversations
Contact With Others
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$30,840
Median	$40,100
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$69,290

Workers Employed Nationally: 5,550