Abstract: A two dimensional laser diode array consists of rows and columns of individual multimode laser diodes, each diode having a separate collection lens. The array is imaged at a large reduction ratio to achieve high resolution recording. In order to decrease the apparent spacing of the diodes in the scanning direction, the rows are staggered relative to the scan direction. In order to avoid variations caused by the near-field non-uniformity of multimode diodes the final spot generated on the media is an image of the aperture of the collecting lens and not of the diode facet. The larger dimension of this aperture, formed by the diffraction limited direction of the laser diode, is reduced by using anamorphic optics.