Profession photographic developer

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

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Post-processing of photographs

    The characteristics of software and techniques used in post-processing photographs.

  • 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.

Skills

  • Store negatives

    Place the cut photographic film (negatives) into protective sleeves and store them properly.

  • Identify customer's needs

    Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.

  • Remove film negatives from processing machine

    Remove the developed photographic film, now negatives, from the machine and roll them onto a spool.

  • Cut photographic film

    Cut the photographic film into negatives, each negative representing one photograph or shot.

  • 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.

  • Handle chemicals

    Safely handle industrial chemicals; use them efficiently and ensure that no harm is done to the environment.

  • Develop film

    Prepare tools and developing and printing equipment. Develop and print exposed film using chemicals.

  • Enlarge negatives

    Place negatives under an enlarger so they can be printed on photographic paper.

  • Remove photographic film from camera

    Remove the film from its holder in a lightproof room, or darkroom, to prevent light exposure.

  • 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.

Optional knowledge and skills

repair photographic film manage offset printing process supply machine prepare offset printing machine scan negatives edit photographs clean negatives soak film in water test chemicals in development baths monitor automated machines rinse photographic film mix chemicals calibrate laboratory equipment test film processing machines manage stocked company material dry photographic film chemistry edit negatives

Source: Sisyphus ODB