Color prints lacking "pop".

[Mike Kennedy]

I'm not pleased with my latest color work.The 4x6 prints are lacking saturation and seem rather bland.Would it be a good rule of thumb to decrease the box speed? Say for example 400 ASA rated to 320,200 set at 100.
I am using a Nikon N90s & AF 50mm 1.8 Nikkor with a variety of Kodak and Fuji c41 films.Processing done at my local pro lab.

Thanks

 

[railwayman3]

I'm not pleased with my latest color work.The 4x6 prints are lacking saturation and seem rather bland.Would it be a good rule of thumb to decrease the box speed? Say for example 400 ASA rated to 320,200 set at 100.
I am using a Nikon N90s & AF 50mm 1.8 Nikkor with a variety of Kodak and Fuji c41 films.Processing done at my local pro lab.

Thanks

Have you changed anything in the way you work, or are you working with different or unfamiliar subjects....if not, and this is a new problem, maybe the fault is with the lab for this particular batch? Printing, in particular, can be a great variable.

In general, I prefer to slightly overexpose for C-41 if in doubt...maybe, as you suggest, set the meter for 320 for nominally 400ASA film, or 80 or 64 for 100ASA film, for general shooting. Bad underexposure can certainly result in wishy-washy colours and milky shadows in the print.

 

[srs5694]

You might also consider, as an experiment, scanning the film and/or taking it to another lab for a few reprints. If you get the sort of results you want with either of these approaches, then it's something to do with the way the lab is making their prints, and in-camera changes shouldn't be necessary.