An arrangement for, and a method of, enhancing performance of an imaging reader for imaging symbols to be read, include a solid-state imager supported by the reader and having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from a symbol as pixel data over a field of view, and a controller operatively connected to the imager, for mapping a virtual scan line in the field of view, for determining whether the virtual scan line extends entirely over the symbol, for remapping the virtual scan line as a remapped virtual scan line that extends entirely over the symbol upon determining that the virtual scan line extends partially over the symbol, and for decoding the pixel data that lies on the remapped virtual scan line.