a method and apparatus are disclosed for scanning documents using a contact image scanner . the imaging apparatus comprises a light source for illuminating the document , a plurality of pixel sensors for generating a signal in response to light incident thereon , a lens for focusing light from the light source reflected from the document onto the plurality of pixel sensors , a color matrix filter disposed between the pixel sensors and the light reflected from the document , and a circuit for processing the signal from the plurality of pixel sensors to generate the digital image of the document . the method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of pixel sensors for generating a signal in response to light incident thereon , projecting light from a light source onto the document in a sequential fashion along the length dimension thereof , reflecting the light projected onto the document onto the plurality of pixel sensors , filtering the light from the light source with a color matrix filter , and processing the signal from the plurality of pixel sensors to generate the digital image of the document .