Abstract: A system is presented for a display engine. An optical imaging pathway comprises at least a selectively reflective image forming device. An illumination beam pathway comprises an optical source cluster including one or more optical sources, optical componentry configured to generate uniform illumination of the selectively reflective image forming device, and one or more photodiodes positioned to capture light reflected off the selectively reflective image forming device. A controller is configured to command the selectively reflective image forming device to operate with a predetermined reflectivity. While the selectively reflective image forming device is operating with the predetermined reflectivity, the optical source is commanded to emit a pulse of light and the one or more photodiodes are read out. A performance profile of one or more of the optical sources and the selectively reflective image forming device is adjusted based on the photodiode readout.