A method for increasing the number of intensity levels available on one or more color channels in an imaging apparatus (10) using a spatial light modulator (22). Multiple LUTs (52) are loaded into the imaging data path as data is directed to multiple spatial light modulators (22), wherein each spatial light modulator (22) has a separate bias voltage setting. In an alternate embodiment a single spatial light modulator (22) can be used with multiple LUTs (52) and with a changed bias voltage setting appropriate for use with each LUT (52).