Photographic processing machine operators use various machines to create prints from film or digital photographs. Most digital processing is done automatically by computer software. Photographic process workers perform more delicate tasks, such as retouching photographic negatives, prints, and images to emphasize or correct specific features.
| 1. | Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, and equipment. |
| 2. | Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, and slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures. |
| 3. | Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, and other changes required for retouching or restoration. |
| 4. | Mix developing and fixing solutions according to established formulas. |
| 5. | Create work prints according to customer specifications and lab protocols. |
| 6. | Cut negatives and put them in order. |
| 7. | Place identification on film as necessary. |
| 8. | Examine developed prints for defects such as broken lines, spots, and blurs. |
| 9. | Reprint originals to enlarge them, or in sections to be pieced together. |
| 10. | Trim edges of prints to enhance appearance, using scissors or paper cutters. |
| 11. | Produce timed prints with separate densities and color settings for each scene of a production. |
| 12. | Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water in order to complete photographic development processes. |
| 13. | Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines. |
| 14. | Correct color work prints to adjust for outdoor filming. |
| 15. | Thread film strips through densitometers, and expose film to light to determine density of film and necessary color corrections. |
| 16. | Mount original photographs, negatives, or other printed material in holders or vacuum frames beneath lights. |
| 17. | Select lens assemblies according to sizes and types of negatives or photographs to be printed. |
| 18. | Record test data from film that has been examined, and route film to film developers and film printers for further processing. |
| 19. | Set automatic timers, lens openings, and printer carriages to specified focus and exposure times, and start exposure in order to duplicate originals, photographs, or negatives. |
| 20. | Evaluate film and negatives to determine characteristics such as sensitivity to light, density, and exposure time required for printing. |
| 21. | Dry prints or negatives, using sponges and/or squeegees, mechanical air dryers, or drying cabinets. |
| 22. | Expose film strips to progressively timed lights to compare effects of various exposure times. |
| 23. | Mount cameras on tripods or stands, and load prescribed types and sizes of film in cameras. |
| 24. | Examine quality of film fades and dissolves, and evaluate potential color corrections, using color analyzers. |
| 25. | Shade negatives or photographs with pencils to smooth facial contours, soften highlights, and conceal blemishes, stray hairs, or wrinkles. |
| 26. | Measure material to be copied, and compute percentages of enlargement or reproduction necessary, using rules, charts, or percentage scales. |
| 27. | Thread film strips through sensitometers, expose film to light, and read gauges to assess light sensitivity. |
| 28. | Rub erasers or cloths over photographs to reduce gloss, remove debris, or prepare specified areas of illustrations for highlighting. |
| 29. | Clean and organize darkrooms, and maintain darkroom equipment. |
| 30. | Apply paint to retouch or enhance negatives or photographs, using airbrushes, pens, artists' brushes, cotton swabs, or gloved fingers. |
| 31. | Ink borders or lettering on illustrations, using pens, brushes, or drafting instruments. |
| 32. | Cut out masking templates, using shears, and position templates on pictures to mask selected areas. |
| 33. | Color photographs to produce natural, lifelike appearances, using oil colors. |