A scanner with high intensity source beam, a modulator for modulating the source beam to provide a zero order beam and first order writing beam in response to an image signal input, a polygon for scanning the writing beam across a moving recording member to write images thereon, a sensor in the path of the zero order beam providing a first black beam intensity signal while scanning between pages and a second white beam intensity signal while the writing beam scans an image background area, a circuit for differencing the first and second beam intensity signals from one another to provide a composite intensity signal representing the intensity of the source beam, and a second circuit for differencing the composite beam intensity signal from an intensity setpoint signal to provide a correction signal for adjusting the rf power to the modulator to maintain a substantially constant writing beam intensity.In a second embodiment, the correction signal is determined by a successive approximation register.