A line-focus system with a curved fluorescent bulb for directing light from the curved fluorescent bulb toward the scan line in the line-focus system. The curved fluorescent bulb is shaped in such a manner that the light intensity across the photosensor line array in the line-focus system is relatively uniform and the length of the light bulb is shorter than straight light bulbs with end sockets at both ends of the light bulb. The curved fluorescent bulb may be C-shaped, U-shaped or towel bar-shaped.