Objective image quality analysis is critical to advancing the science, technology and business of imaging. In developing a line of portable image quality analysis tools, our goal has been to bridge a historic divide: sophisticated image analysis systems have been available to a relative handful of researchers in the laboratory; but practical, everyday tools for imaging professionals in other parts of the enterprise have been sorely lacking. In this paper, we summarize the functional requirements of a compact, low-cost tool and describe the hardware and software solutions incorporated in its design. We present application examples that highlight the capabilities, performance and potential of a system that makes on-the-spot image analysis a practical reality.