Images being processed in a photographic laboratory system into different forms of output are automatically evaluated to determine for each image whether it is of sufficient quality to merit processing into a selected form of output. The evaluation of each image includes the following steps: determining a grade value for each of one or more characteristic properties of the image, assigning a target value to each of the characteristic image properties relative to each available form of output, comparing the grade value to the target value for a selected form of output.