A system and method includes operations and steps for synchronizing a light source (22) with an image sensor (16). An imaging system (10) includes a camera unit (14) having an image sensor (16), a light detector unit (18) and a synchronization unit (20). The light detector unit detects the actual time the light source is actuated to determine when a switch occurs between white light and colored light. A camera controller unit (24) processes the actual time with a timing of the image sensor to detect a difference between the actual time the light source is switched and the timing of the image sensor. The camera controller unit is configured to actuate synchronization unit to synchronize the light source with the image sensor when the switch occurs outside of a predetermined period within a blanking region during frame formation.
