Photographic developer

Photographic developers use chemicals, instruments, and darkroom photographic techniques in specialised rooms in order to develop photographic films into visible images.

A photographic developer typically does the following:

• Pulls reel of motion-picture film or rack of film strips through trapdoor into darkroom.
• Examines film to determine type processing required, utilizing knowledge of film developing techniques.
• Feels edges of film to detect tears and repairs film, using hand stapler.
• Mounts film in guide slot of developing machine according to length of time required for processing and pulls lever to lower film into processing position.
• Flips switch to start machine that transports film through series of solutions and into drying cabinet to develop and dry film.
• Observes film passing through machine to determine density of image and adjusts machine controls to shorten or lengthen path of film through solutions according to observation.

The following job titles also refer to photographic developer:

photography lab technician
photograph developer
photography developer
photo developer
photograph laboratory technician
photo retoucher
photograph printer
photograph lab technician
photo lab technician
photography laboratory technician
photo laboratory technician

No formal educational credential is required to work as a photographic developer, however, a course in photography, graphic art or printing may be useful. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Photographic developer is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to photographic developer.

motion picture film developer
lithographer
nailing machine operator
offset printer
prepress technician

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of photographic developer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of photographic developer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

material testing technician
pulp control operator
chromatographer
chemistry technician
zoology technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of photographic developer.

• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Photographic processing techniques: The different techniques to develop photographic film such as chromogenic positive, Kodachrome and autotype.
• Post-processing of photographs: The characteristics of software and techniques used in post-processing photographs.

These skills are necessary for the role of photographic developer.

• Cut photographic film: Cut the photographic film into negatives, each negative representing one photograph or shot.
• Handle chemicals: Safely handle industrial chemicals; use them efficiently and ensure that no harm is done to the environment.
• Remove film negatives from processing machine: Remove the developed photographic film, now negatives, from the machine and roll them onto a spool.
• Enlarge negatives: Place negatives under an enlarger so they can be printed on photographic paper.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Apply safety procedures in laboratory: Make sure that laboratory equipment is used in a safe manner and the handling of samples and specimens is correct. Work to ensure the validity of results obtained in research.
• Remove photographic film from camera: Remove the film from its holder in a lightproof room, or darkroom, to prevent light exposure.
• Store negatives: Place the cut photographic film into protective sleeves and store them in a safe manner.
• Monitor film development baths: Place the photographic film in chemical baths with e.g. citric acid and ammonium thiosulfate, monitor temperature and treatment time.
• Mount photographic film in processing machine: Mount the film in the guide slot of the processing machine, pull lever to drop film into processing position.
• Develop film: Prepare tools and developing and printing equipment. Develop and print exposed film using chemicals.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of photographic developer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of photographic developer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Edit negatives: Use different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.
• Manage stocked company material: Maintain company material and stocked product inventory by keeping track of stock profiles and locations.
• Clean negatives: Clean photographic negatives and film negatives after development with a lint-free cloth to remove any dust or debris.
• Rinse photographic film: Make sure the film dries uniformly by rinsing it in a dilute solution of a non-ionic wetting agent.
• Mix chemicals: Mix chemical substances safely according to recipe, using the proper dosages.
• Manage offset printing process: Select and oversee implementation of relevant printing processes, necessary tools, and colours.
• Test chemicals in development baths: Use specialised equipment to test the chemicals in the baths of a film developing machine in order to make sure that they are working properly.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Soak film in water: Swell the gelatin layer on photographic film by soaking it in water.
• Calibrate laboratory equipment: Calibrate laboratory equipment by comparing between measurements: one of known magnitude or correctness, made with a trusted device and a second measurement from another piece of laboratory equipment. Make the measurements in as similar a way as possible.
• Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
• Test film processing machines: Use precision instruments to determine the proper operation of photographic film processing machines.
• Prepare offset printing machine: Adjust, set, and prepare machines for offset printing by calibrating each part of the machine.
• Scan negatives: Scan processed negatives so they can be digitally stored, edited, and printed.
• Dry photographic film: Place the photographic film in a dust-free environment to dry.
• Edit photographs: Resize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.
• Repair photographic film: Detect tears in photographic film, repair them using a hand stapler.

8132 – Photographic products machine operators

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References

1. ESCO
2. Photographic Developer and Printer | Your Career
3. Featured image: Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels