1. An imaging pixel array, comprising: an active area of pixels, organized as a plurality of rows and columns of pixels; and a plurality of dark pixels arranged in a plurality of dark pixel columns adjacent to a first side of said active area of pixels and in a plurality of dark pixel rows adjacent to a second side of said active area of pixels and to said plurality of dark pixel columns, the plurality of dark pixel rows having a width corresponding to a width of the active area of pixels and the plurality of dark pixel columns, wherein each row of the plurality of dark pixel rows includes a first half of only optically black pixels and a second half of only tied pixels.