Laboratories - What is required
A Photographic Laboratory is a technical facility that serves the needs of professional photographers, designers and serious amateurs for the production of high-quality photographic images on a variety of papers and other display materials.
Working in a modern Photographic Laboratory is varied and fast-paced, requiring a high degree of accuracy and quality control. Laboratory technicians do not usually take photographs in the course of their work, but a keen interest in photography is very useful as laboratory work is a key part of the overall process of taking photographs and producing images for a wide range of artistic and commercial activities.
Before the arrival of digital cameras, laboratory work involved developing film, duplicating slides, printing contact sheets, and producing high quality prints in a dark room, as well as retouching, mounting and laminating images for display. However, since most images are now originated and handled in digital format, the modern laboratory is a bright-lit, computerised facility containing digital workstations and a variety of photographic, large-format and inkjet printing equipment.
The revolution in digital imaging, and the introduction of affordable ‘home' printers, has also meant that Photographic Laboratories have had to diversify into new ‘value added' areas of image production in order to remain profitable. These new areas often include products and services such as:
- Online ordering and reordering systems
- Billboard, large format and poster display
- In- store promotion Units and counter displays
- Banners and exhibition display stands
- Display graphics and accessories
- Photo montage
- Photo restoration
- Fine art canvas printing
- Wedding album and personalised calendar production
- Personalised wallpaper printing
- Backlit displays
- Lenticular and 3D graphics
In some cases, Photographic Laboratories have diversified so far away from processing and printing that they now regard themselves as Image Producers, who may also carry out some design and printing work formerly undertaken by graphic designers or graphic printers.
Most people who work in the Photo Laboratory and Image Production sector are employees who enjoy the benefits of a regular income, holidays and a pension.
The job profiles roles relevant to the laboratory sector used to include Film Processing Technician, Photographic Printer and Print Finisher. However, in most laboratories these roles are no longer current and after consulting with the laboratory sector we have therefore chosen to focus on the following Job Profiles:
Laboratory Manager
Minilab Operator
Digital Imaging Specialist - Laboratory
Print Finishing Technician