Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. They perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.
Photographer's job description involves loading digital images onto computers or websites. They operate to develop the photo work and digital imaging equipment while inspecting printed materials or other images to verify quality. Further, they load materials into production equipment.
If one is interested in becoming a photographic machine processing operator, a high school diploma is usually needed for this career.
Photographic machine processing jobs require much experience in a role such as a photographer. Meanwhile, many photographic machine operators also have previous career experience in roles such as volunteer or server which further helps in career advancement. Most photographic machine operators find jobs in the government and media industries and get machine operator plastic processing salaries that range in five digits.
To succeed in photography work, one should possess the hard skills and knowledge of operation and control, quality control analysis and operation monitoring, great reading comprehension and mathematical ability. They should also have near vision, manual dexterity, control precision and information order.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- B.A. Media Studies
- Diploma Photography
- Certificate Photography
Tasks
- 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.
Progression Routes
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