A white line skipping technique for data reduction is disclosed for reducing facsimile transmission time. Video processing for white line skipping centers around the use of a five element solid state linear array. The photosensitive area for each of the five elements corresponds to a single picture element for the defined resolution parameters. VID 0 is the active video signal and is processed in the normal manner for transmission. VID 1 through VID 4 comprise the look ahead scan elements. The slicing level is derived from the VID 0 peak detector which controls the video automatic gain control. Any black video elements encountered during a scan line causes a flip-flop to be set. At the end of each scan line, corresponding to one complete drum revolution, and during the lost time interval, the status of each flip-flop is sampled by the microprocessor to determine whether the scan line is entire white. The flip-flops are then reset for the next scan or drum revolution.