Working Conditions [About this section] Back to Top
Photographic process workers and processing machine operators
generally spend their work hours in clean, appropriately lighted, well-
ventilated, and air-conditioned offices, photofinishing laboratories, or
1-hour minilabs. In recent years, more commercial photographic
processing has been done on computers than in darkrooms, and this
trend is expected to continue.
Airbrush artists restore damaged and faded photographs, and may
color or shade drawings to create photographic likenesses using an
airbrush. Photographic retouchers alter photographic negatives, prints,
or images to accentuate the subject. Colorists apply oil colors to
portrait photographs to create natural, lifelike appearances.
Photographic spotters remove imperfections on photographic prints
and images.
Photographic process workers, sometimes known as digital imaging
technicians, use computer images of conventional negatives and
specialized computer software to vary the contrast of images, remove
unwanted background, or combine features from different
photographs. Although computers and digital technology are replacing
much manual work, some photographic process workers, especially
those who work in portrait studios, still perform many specialized
tasks by hand directly on the photo or negative.
Color printer operators control equipment that produces color prints
from negatives. These workers read customer instructions to
determine processing requirements. They load film into color printing
equipment, examine negatives to determine equipment control
settings, set controls, and produce a specified number of prints.
Finally, they inspect the finished prints for defects, remove any that
are found, and insert the processed negatives and prints into an
envelope for return to the customer.
