A method for calibrating a linear printhead in a digital printing system, the linear printhead extending in a cross-track direction and including an array of light sources for exposing a photosensitive medium, comprising: a) providing an initial set of current control parameters that specify current values to be used for each of the light sources; b) providing digital image data for a test target including one or more uniform patches; c) printing the test target using the digital printing system to provide a printed test target on a print medium, wherein the printing includes activating the light sources in the linear printhead in accordance with the digital image data to provide an exposure pattern on the photosensitive medium, and wherein a current value for each light source is controlled responsive to the initial set of current control parameters; d) using a digital image capture system to capture an image of the printed test target; e) using a data processing system to automatically analyze the captured image to determine an estimated exposure gain error for each light source in the linear printhead; f) determining an updated set of current control parameters responsive to the determined estimated exposure gain errors, wherein the updated set of current control parameters specify updated current values for each of the light sources that compensate for the determined estimated exposure gain errors; and g) storing the updated set of current control parameters in a processor-accessible memory for use in printing subsequent digital image data; wherein the set of current control parameters includes a source-dependent current control value (D REF) for each light source; characterized by a plurality of driver chips being used to control the light sources in the linear printhead, each driver chip being used to control an associated set of light sources, and wherein the set of current control parameters further includes a chip-dependent current control value (C REF) for each driver chip. a) providing an initial set of current control parameters that specify current values to be used for each of the light sources; b) providing digital image data for a test target including one or more uniform patches; c) printing the test target using the digital printing system to provide a printed test target on a print medium, wherein the printing includes activating the light sources in the linear printhead in accordance with the digital image data to provide an exposure pattern on the photosensitive medium, and wherein a current value for each light source is controlled responsive to the initial set of current control parameters; d) using a digital image capture system to capture an image of the printed test target; e) using a data processing system to automatically analyze the captured image to determine an estimated exposure gain error for each light source in the linear printhead; f) determining an updated set of current control parameters responsive to the determined estimated exposure gain errors, wherein the updated set of current control parameters specify updated current values for each of the light sources that compensate for the determined estimated exposure gain errors; and g) storing the updated set of current control parameters in a processor-accessible memory for use in printing subsequent digital image data;