1. A method of printer operation comprising: generating with an optical sensor having a plurality of detectors first image data of a surface of a rotating member while the surface is bare of ink, the rotating member being positioned to rotate in front of at least one printhead to form an ink image on the surface of the rotating member; operating the at least one printhead to eject ink onto the surface of the rotating member with reference to data stored in the printer; generating second image data of the surface of the rotating member while the ejected ink corresponding to the data stored in the printer is on the surface of the rotating member; aligning the first image data with the second image data; reducing noise in the second image data with reference to the first image data aligned with the second image data; processing the second image data having reduced noise to identify the ejected ink on the surface of the rotating image member; and operating the printer with reference to the ejected ink identified on the surface of the rotating image member.