1. A method of detecting line artifacts in a digital X-ray detector, having a matrix of detector elements formed in rows and columns defining lines of detector elements to be read out, the method comprising: covering a portion of the X-ray detector with a radiation occluding material; exposing the X-ray detector to radiation having a level sufficient to reach a predetermined threshold in an exposed portion of the X-ray detector not covered by the occluding material; and analyzing the detector elements in at least the covered portion of the X-ray detector with respect to the predetermined threshold to identify the lines of the detector elements containing the faulty detector elements in the exposed portion that leak charge.