QUALITY CONTROL AND ROUTINE VISIT
With care and attention the studio will continue to provide good quality photographs for many years. Periodic checks are recommended for good management of the Studio and for preventive maintenance. The check starts when you are approaching the studio.
Check the following:
1. That the top sign (where fitted) is lit clean and undamaged.
2. That the advertising mirrors, and trim are clean and undamaged.
3. That the customer compartment, ceiling, back wall, back light, wall, door, seat, floor and curtains are in good order.
4. That the seat moves freely up and down.
5. That the back light fluorescent tubes on the door and upper light box are on.
6. That the green light is on.
MECHANICAL
Open the studio door and check:
1. That no paper carriers are bent or loose.
2. That there are no loose Photostrips in chemical tray or on floor etc. and that the delivery unit and fans are running freely.
4. That the transmission backlash is not excessive.
5. That all plugs and sockets are tight.
6. The vend validation system is working correctly.
ELECTRICAL
Check:
1. That the heaters, thermostat, wires etc are all in good working order and clear of the paper carriers.
2. That the cabinet heater system is working and that the fan is clear.
3. That the strobe generator operates and that the charge voltage is set at the operational level.
CHEMICAL
Check:
1. That the chemical level in the tanks is correct.
2. That there is sufficient chemical in the bottles to last until the next visit.
3. That the chemical temperature is correct
4. That the chemistry life will last until the next visit. Refer to the Table in CHAPTER.SIX CHEMICAL CHANGE.
5. The fourteen chemical tanks are free from leaks.
PHOTO QUALITY PROBLEM
Overexposed (Example A)
An iris opening of F8 to F11 will normally give best results. If prints are too light rotate iris adjusting ring, to a higher number. This iris adjustment is on the outside of the camera facing you when you open the main door.
Overdeveloped
Chemicals too hot (Example B)
Check temperature of developer solution, check heater and Thermostat.
Pre-exposed paper (Example C)
Check paper in the manner described earlier.
Prints too dark Under-exposed (Example D)
Check iris setting on the outside of the camera and lighten prints by moving pointer to a lower number.
Under-developed (Example E)
Check temperature of developer solution. Check heater and thermostat. To ensure continuity of prints leave machine switched on 24 hours a day. If it is necessary to switch off machine at night, allow at least one hour in the morning to ensure that the
developer liquid is at the same temperature throughout No. 1 Tank. If machine is not allowed the warm-up period then the developer solution may be warmer at the top than at the bottom. This will give a dark photo at the top of the strip and a light
photo at the bottom of the strip.
Life of chemicals exhausted (Example F)
Change chemical.
Foreign Images on Prints (Example G)
Portion of photo masked out (paper remnant in lens backing plate). Remove paper with fingers or remove lens backing plate if necessary.
Oil Spots (Example H)
1. Check for source of contamination. Remove surplus oil from lens backing plate, cut off blade. feed down and delivery assembly, paper carriers. etc. Clean all rollers in camera, feed down and delivery assemblies with solvent.
2. When it is necessary to oil machine, remove tanks. Any oil deposited in tanks will transfer to photo strips being processed.
Small Black Spots on Prints (Example 1)
(Dust or foreign particles on film) Check velvet light seal on magazine to see if the pile is coming off. Check interior of machine for dust and dirt. If there are dust particles on the surface of the chemicals remove by drawing a piece of blotting paper across the surface several times.
Blue Streaks on Prints (Example J)
(Exhausted bleach)
Clean tanks and change chemicals. Check for contamination (see previous notes on contamination).
Discolouration on prints (Example K)
(Insufficient development at these spots)
This is caused by the paper touching or being close to the paper carrier at these points. Re-align paper carrier with feed down unit. Check to make sure the carriers have not been bent or mis-shapen enough to cause them to touch the inside of the paper.
Dark section at the bottom of the last print (Example L)
(Developer solution more than 1/2″ from the top
of the tank)
Fill tank No. 1 to 1/2″ from the top.
Light section at the top of the first print on strip (Example M)
(Deposits in the bottom of chemical tanks)
Change chemicals. Mix new chemicals thoroughly.
Image blurred (Example N)
1. Lens out of focus or alignment.
2. Lens or prism fogged or extremely dirty.
3. Glass on door smudged or dirty.
Unsightly background (Example O)
1. Soiled or torn back drape.
2. Dirty white “ Formica” wall.
3. Chemicals over age.
Faulty development (Example P)
(Over-age chemicals)
Change chemicals, thoroughly clean chemical
tanks.
Image giving negative effect (Example Q)
Check to see that all chemical tanks are in their
right positions,
All-over “ muddy ” effect (Example R)
Clean tanks, change chemicals.
Prints overlapping on strip (Example S)
1. Loose or worn camera paper feed rollers.
2. Tighten set screws on rollers.
3. Check to see if rubber is still attached to brass insert.
4. Check to see if roller is still round.
