Will “Negative Retoucher” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

99% Chance of Automation

“Negative Retoucher” will certainly be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #694 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Perform work involved in developing and processing photographic images from film or digital media. May perform precision tasks such as editing photographic negatives and prints.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9151.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 31,740.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 15.00
Currently, there are 26,430 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Negative Retoucher”

Operate machines to prepare circuit boards and to expose, develop, etch, fix, wash, dry, or print film or plates.
Reprint originals for enlargement or in sections to be pieced together.
Immerse film, negatives, paper, or prints in developing solutions, fixing solutions, and water to complete photographic development processes.
Operate scanners or related computer equipment to digitize negatives, photographic prints, or other images.
Color photographs to produce natural, lifelike appearances, using oil colors and airbrushes.
Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects.
Monitor equipment operation to detect malfunctions.
Examine quality of film fades or dissolves for potential color corrections, using color analyzers.
Set automatic timers, lens openings, and printer carriages to specified focus and exposure times and start exposure to duplicate originals, photographs, or negatives.
Measure and mix chemicals to prepare solutions for processing, according to formulas.
Expose filmstrips to progressively timed lights to compare effects of various exposure times.
Select digital images for printing, specify number of images to be printed, and direct to printer, using computer software.
Ink borders or lettering on illustrations using pens, brushes, or drafting instruments.
Thread filmstrips through densitometers or sensitometers and expose film to light to determine density of film, necessary color corrections, or light sensitivity.
Splice broken or separated film and mount film on reels.
Fill tanks of processing machines with solutions such as developer, dyes, stop-baths, fixers, bleaches, or washes.
Apply paint, using airbrushes, pens, artists' brushes, cotton swabs, or gloved fingers to retouch or enhance negatives or photographs.
Insert processed negatives and prints into envelopes for delivery to customers.
Operate special equipment to perform tasks such as transferring film to videotape or producing photographic enlargements.
Produce timed prints with separate densities or color settings for each scene of a production.
Set or adjust machine controls, according to specifications, type of operation, or material requirements.
Upload digital images onto Web sites for customers.
Maintain records, such as quantities or types of processing completed, materials used, or customer charges.
Produce color or black-and-white photographs, negatives, or slides, applying standard photographic reproduction techniques and procedures.
Mount original photographs, negatives, or other printed material in holders or vacuum frames beneath lights.
Shade negatives or photographs with pencils to smooth facial contours, soften highlights, or conceal blemishes, stray hairs, or wrinkles.
Load digital images onto computers directly from cameras or from storage devices, such as flash memory cards or universal serial bus (USB) devices.
Review computer-processed digital images for quality.
Read work orders to determine required processes, techniques, materials, or equipment.
Load circuit boards, racks or rolls of film, negatives, or printing paper into processing or printing machines.
Place sensitized paper in frames of projection printers, photostats, or other reproduction machines.
Examine developed prints for defects, such as broken lines, spots, or blurs.
Examine drawings, negatives, or photographic prints to determine coloring, shading, accenting, or other changes required for retouching or restoration.
Create prints according to customer specifications and laboratory protocols.
Clean or maintain photoprocessing or darkroom equipment, using ultrasonic equipment or cleaning and rinsing solutions.
Dry prints or negatives using sponges, squeegees, mechanical air dryers, or drying cabinets.

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