1. A method for acquiring image data representing an image of at least part of a microscope specimen using an imaging apparatus the method comprising: moving the specimen relative to the imaging apparatus continuously in a scanning direction along a predetermined path to provide for one or more velocities of relative movement; capturing a plurality of adjacent overlapping two dimensional images of the specimen, wherein the specimen is moved continuously relative to the imaging apparatus during image capture, and wherein the overlap is in the scanning direction; and assembling a composite image from the plurality of overlapping adjacent two dimensional images by using cross correlation and removing duplicate overlapping regions from the captured adjacent overlapping two dimensional images, wherein the specimen is moved relative to the imaging apparatus from a start position to an end position on the path by steadily increasing the velocity of relative movement from the start position to a constant velocity and then steadily decreasing the velocity to the end position.