Abstract: An automatic document imaging mode selection system in a system for generating electronic images of documents, in which documents may be variously fed or registered on a document imaging platen with a plural mode automatic document handling system. Various document handling and/or image scanning modes of operation are automatically selected from among various available potential such modes by accessing various document handling status information and/or sensor inputs, and coordinating that information to automatically select an optimum such mode where the operator has not specifically selected a mode. This may further include automatically determining whether or not to conduct a special pre-scan cycle before image scanning is initiated, and/or taking into consideration inferences as to whether or not the document(s) had been previously imaged. It may further or additionally include automatically changing the registration or scanning position for the particular document in accordance with the mode selection.