Pantone huey™ (MEU101)

Last year, I could no longer avoid the symptoms; my eyes were not what they were. I suspected cataracts and a visit to an ophthalmologist confirmed it. After lens replacement surgery, I discovered just how much my vision had deteriorated. The world took on a new vivid experience, colors just seemed to blossom.

Just as cataracts are a common factor of aging in people, computer monitors deteriorate with age and I suddenly knew why my digital photos never seemed to appear on my aging Samsung SyncMaster 755 monitor as they were in real life. Phosphors age, just as human eyes age. I knew that there were colorimeter devices available for monitors, but I also knew that they were expensive.

Then I came across the Pantone Huey. Pantone was a familiar name, having seen it appear as the color standard for several graphics programs. I felt comfortable in acquiring the Huey, it was only $89 retail and Pantone was the authority in digital color. Not bad for the equivalent of cataract surgery.

The minimum system requirements for Huey are quite modest: Windows 2000/XP or Mac OS 10.3. My system runs under XP Pro, so no problem here.

The package contains: Huey Calorimeter, desktop cradle, USB cable, cleaning packet with micro-cloth, Software CD and a quick start guide.

Prior to installing Huey, clean your monitor face with the included cleaning kit. Do the same for Huey's suction cups (they attach Huey to the monitor). The cradle is used to hold Huey after the calibration so that it can provide correction for the ambient light.

Make sure that your monitor has been running for at least 30 minutes before starting the calibration process. Run the software, and you will be led through the process including when to attach Huey to the monitor. The calibration should take about two minutes, then remove Huey from the monitor and place it in the cradle.

You will be asked to specify a viewing preference (photos, games or web browsing). Huey will adjust accordingly. You are not locked in to this choice as it came be changed within the PREFERENCES section of the software.
Another caveat; if you have any other color correction software ie., Adobe Gamma, disable it prior to installing Huey.

When I started the Huey software, I really liked the graphics but must admit a bit of befuddlement with the instructions to set contrast to 100% and brightness to 50% and then turn it down too get a defined appearance of a graphic. The confusion was, "just what is meant by it?" Since there were only two parameters, the uncertainty did not produce a disaster, as it did not take long to try all combinations. When you are finished with the calibration, there is one more choice, how often should the ambient light adjustment be made. I opted for three minutes.

Of course, the key question is: "Just how good is the calibration?" It is somewhat analogous to hi-fi music; for me the fi is high enough if the sound is pleasing to my ears, I do not listen with an oscilloscope. Similarly, the fidelity of the color is good enough if it pleases my eyes. With my new cataract-free lenses, I feel that I can rally appreciate color and many of the subtle hues. I was happy with the results produced by Huey. I could also see the slight changes it made when accommodating the changes in ambient light.

Huey can be turned off, for times when the monitor is idle. It would be a nice feature if the device could detect the idle mode.

Huey is made for both CRT and LCD monitors. I did not use Huey on my laptop, because it is new and also I am somewhat apprehensive about pressing suction cups on an LCD screen.
If you have more than one computer at home or in the office, you may use Huey on each with no additional licensing fees. Tell that to Bill Gates.

If color fidelity is important to you, you need Huey. It works and the $89 list price is certainly reasonable, especially when compared to competing calorimeter devices.
I can recommend the Pantone Huey without any hesitation.