Abstract: The present invention relates to optical devices and methods of extracting optical properties, and depth and fluorescence information for visualizing samples. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a multi-frequency synthesis and extraction (MSE) method for quantitative tissue imaging. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of obtaining optical properties and depth information by illuminating a sample with binary square wave patterns of light, wherein a series of spatial frequency components are simultaneously attenuated and can be extracted. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an optical imaging apparatus comprising a Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) device modified to condense frequency information content into a single charged coupled device (CCD) frame, multi-pixel and/or single-pixel sensor using frequency-synthesized patterns.