A formation detection system comprising: (a) one or more sensors and (b) one or more lights that illuminate a location of interest so that the one or more sensors can monitor the location of interest; wherein one of the one or more sensors are located substantially planar with a wire of a paper machine and proximate to a slice opening so that the one of the one or more sensors is adjacent to a cut through so that the one of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring stock above the wire and removed water below the wire, and wherein the one of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring a distance between an impingement location of a stock jet and the wire from a forming board.