A method for obtaining a radiographic image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, generates a first exposure and acquires image data from the first exposure as a first component image. A second exposure is generated using one or more parameters that are adjusted according to an image quality characteristic of the acquired image data from the first exposure. Image data is acquired from the second exposure as a second component image. One or more additional exposures are generated and an additional component image acquired with each additional exposure. A composite image is formed by combining image data content from the first and second component images and the one or more additional component images.
