Pantone huey monitor calibration query?

[m1ks]

Any Pantone Huey calibration users out there and what are your thoughts on it?

I'm going to take the plunge soon as wanting to get more accurate colour matching and fed up with calibrating by eye then getting the odd print out and thinking, 'that's nothing like' etc.

I'm currently hovering between this and the Spyder 2 but the Huey price is swinging it so far

Cheers,

Mike

 

[strikeback03]

try searching, there have been some not-so-hot reviews. also, what kills it for me, is that the huey must be connected to the computer for the profile to work. I need a profile system I can use on both my laptop and desktop.

of course the spyder2 has seen mixed reviews as well.
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http://www.linelight.org/

 

[Chilt]

also, what> kills it for me, is that the huey must be connected to the computer for the profile to work. I need a profile system I can use on both
my laptop and desktop.

Actually the huey does not have to be connected for the profile to be active. Once you calibrate your monitor with the huey you may unplug and store the device until you require another calibration. However if you do leave the device plugged into your computer, as an added feature, the huey will constantly monitor the ambient light in your room and adjust the gamma on-the-fly as the lighting changes and surrounding conditions permit.

Also, you may calibrate any desktop and/or laptop you have to maintain color fidelity through all of your display devices.

If you have any other questions let me know or email through my information below.

Matt

--
Matthew Chilton
Marketing Manager - Digital Solutions
Pantone, Inc.
[email protected]

 

[strikeback03]

OK, I was told it had to stay connected as a type of dongle. Have not actually used one.
--
http://www.linelight.org/

 

[bp1]

Wow Matthew, thanks for weighing in on this so quickly. I love companies that monitor and address stuff on these forums. Now how about offering the users of this forum a discount on the Huey?
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Click on my profile to see my equipment.

 

[philbarrett]

kinda smells of "big brother" what with companies like pantone monitoring forums, and stomping out any kind of negatives.I am sure the pantone huey works 100% fantastically.Providing that is, if you have a
real expensive apple cinema display..................

;-)
--
http://www.pbase.com/digitaldreams

 

[philhh]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks so much for the quick and courteous reply to this original post. As a result of seeing your response in here, I just purchased one this morning from my local camera store. Thanks for being on this forum!

Regards,

Phil

 

[elton2]

Phil,

Let us know what you think of it.

Elton

 

[philhh]

Will do! I should be installing it at work this afternoon to check it out... will report back. I do have to admit I've never used a calibrator, so my feedback will be that of a newbie!

-Phil

 

[m1ks]

Thanks for the response, have mailed you for further info.
Regards,

Mike

 

[elton2]

Thanks. I've never used one either so any feedback at all will be useful. I've been thinking about getting one of these for awhile now.

Elton

 

[philbarrett]

remember to remove the adobe gamma loader first from your start up folder. That will avoid any conflicts.However, this never worked for mine.So good luck and let us know how you get on..smart moneys on green cast



Just kiddin'

cheers

phil

 

[Chilt]

Not a problem, I'm usually on the forums, since I shoot as well, trolling for information and advice on glass, technique, composition, etc. I like to make myself as available as possible to get you folks through the "color issues" and back to taking pictures.

I have reached out to Mr. Askey to setup an affiliate program for dpreview members to receive a discount off the product however I am waiting to hear back.

Philbarrett - I attempted to reach out to you previously through a thread to discuss the issues you were having with the huey. My invitation remains open if you'd like to contact me directly we can get your system up and running.

Matt
--
Matthew Chilton
Marketing Manager - Digital Solutions
Pantone, Inc.
[email protected]

 

[lenarufus]

Have you installed it yet? What do you think?
--

Pics from Australia & New Zealand here : http://www.fototime.com/inv/A57B49CE461949C

 

[philhh]

Hi Guys,

So sorry for the delay. I have a demanding job and 2 kids (2 year old daughter and 3 month old son) and time just seems to slip away!

I installed the Huey onto my Mac G5 tower and NEC 9V LCD monitor at work to check it out. Installation was extremely simple and the directions were very straightforward. Calibration took about 3 minutes and at the end I was given the option to leave the Huey connected to adjust for room lighting or to turn that feature off. A calibrated profile was created for me within my monitors display.

The software creates a pull-down menu on the top of the screen near where your clock is. From this you can get to the Huey software, control panel, and other features. You can also enable or disable to room lighting compensation.

My resulting calibration was very different from what I've been using. It seems to have a decidedly bluish-purple cast to the white/gray areas of my screen, such as this window. That being said, when I open up a photo, the colors do seem a bit more true to life, thought I'm left wondering/concerned about that blue cast. However, suddenly a whole level of color detail is revealed I never new was in the photo. I took a photo of my daughter, zoomed in on a portion showing her face, a yellow dress with white flowers, and a pretty well-exposed blue sky with clouds. In my original calibration of the monitor via Apple's Display panel I couldn't see as much color detail in my daughter's eyes... with the Huey calibration I see much much more detail. This was a bit of a revelation from the standpoint of a newbie... I didn't think there would be this much of a change.

The dress, grass, and plants all look good too. However, I still feel the clouds and white flowers on her dress look a bit bluish. Perhaps I'm so used to the old calibration I just have to grow more accustomed to this. Once I had the Huey on for 5 minutes I started to feel my previous calibration looked too bright and a bit on the yellowish pink side.

I know nothing about calibration or what a monitor should look like. I know even less I'm afraid about color temperatures and such, so this report is basically from one of the typing monkeys who didn't quite get Shakespeare down right. Overall the calibrator does seem to be doing its thing and I think I'm happy for the $79 spent. I'm going to try it on my laptop at home, and perhaps a few CRTs to see what effect it has.

All the best,

Phil

 

[philbarrett]

Ok you've won me over...LOL Thanks for the offer of advice, I only wish it had arrived in time. I had already returned the huey.However, I do work in graphics and we are looking at "the bigger picture" right now. I may lean on you for a few suggestions and even have a few questions for you at a later date. We are looking for a total hard and soft colour proofing solution.

So I may well be in touch sooner than you think BTW we are all on CRT monitors (mitsubishi diamonds) utilising a possible Oris or GMB rip (decision outstanding) with Epson 4800's K3 inksets....any suggestions? One other thing we ordered two pantone colour cues over two months ago...when are we going to get them? See what you get when you offer help...aggravation and hassel ?

Cheers

Phil
--
http://www.pbase.com/digitaldreams

 

[m1ks]

I've ordered one also as the OP thought i'd get my feet wet rather than wait for other people and opinion on this seems pretty divided although I read a very unbiased write up on a photography site, the guys an indipendant photographer and has tested several calibration tools and he's OK with it, not blown away or anything but his main gripe is that the Huey doesn't give the user enough control for personal adjustment.

As long as it shows me what I see when I print i couldn't care less, i'm just hacked off with getting a great looking print on screen and nothing like when I print it.

Will post and let you all know how it goes, have been advised it should arrive in the next couple of days.

Mike

 

[Chilt]

Ok you've won me over...LOL Thanks for the offer of advice, I only
wish it had arrived in time. I had already returned the
huey.However, I do work in graphics and we are looking at "the
bigger picture" right now. I may lean on you for a few suggestions
and even have a few questions for you at a later date.

No problem, you know how to get in touch with me.

We are looking for a total hard and soft colour proofing solution.
So I may well be in touch sooner than you think BTW we are all
on CRT monitors (mitsubishi diamonds) utilising a possible Oris or
GMB rip (decision outstanding) with Epson 4800's K3 inksets....any
suggestions?

I might need a bit more information, contact me directly and we can discuss.

One other thing we ordered two pantone colour cues
over two months ago...when are we going to get them? See what you
get when you offer help...aggravation and hassel ?

Cheers

Phil

Luckily I manage the Color Cue 2 as well. We have begun filling back orders (due to an overwhelming demand for the product) and hope to have the pipeline clean within the next month or two. If you email me your purchasing information I'll see what I can do to expidite your order and get those units out to you.
--
Matthew Chilton
Marketing Manager - Digital Solutions
Pantone, Inc.
[email protected]