A multi-focal spot computed tomography imaging system, comprising: at least two focal spots, including at least a first focal spot (1410 1) and a second focal spot (1410 N), wherein the at least two focal spots are configured respectively to emit first and second radiation towards the examination region; at least two pre-patient radiation beam filters, including at least a first pre-patient radiation beam filter (1416 1) and a second pre-patient radiation beam filter (1416 N), wherein the first pre-patient radiation beam filter is disposed between the first focal spot and the examination region and has a first physical profile, and the second pre-patient radiation beam filter is disposed between the second focal spot and the examination region and has a second physical profile, wherein the first and the second physical profiles are different; a source controller configured to control an operation of the at least two focal spots by modulating the operation of the at least two focal spots during a scan based on at least one of an angular position of the at least two focal spots, a shape of a region of interest of subject or object being scanned, or based on a change in size between two adjacent regions of the subject or object being scanned; at least two z-axis source collimators, including a first z-axis collimator (1414 1) and a second z-axis collimator (1414 N), wherein the first z-axis collimator is disposed between the first focal spot and the examination region and the second z-axis collimator is disposed between the second focal spot and the examination region; and a collimator controller that is configured to independently control the at least two z-axis source collimators so as to collimate the first and second radiation so that that redundant information is not acquired by the detector array; and a detector array configured to detect radiation traversing the examination region and generates projection data indicative thereof. at least two focal spots, including at least a first focal spot (1410 1) and a second focal spot (1410 N), wherein the at least two focal spots are configured respectively to emit first and second radiation towards the examination region; at least two pre-patient radiation beam filters, including at least a first pre-patient radiation beam filter (1416 1) and a second pre-patient radiation beam filter (1416 N), wherein the first pre-patient radiation beam filter is disposed between the first focal spot and the examination region and has a first physical profile, and the second pre-patient radiation beam filter is disposed between the second focal spot and the examination region and has a second physical profile, wherein the first and the second physical profiles are different; a source controller configured to control an operation of the at least two focal spots by modulating the operation of the at least two focal spots during a scan based on at least one of an angular position of the at least two focal spots, a shape of a region of interest of subject or object being scanned, or based on a change in size between two adjacent regions of the subject or object being scanned; at least two z-axis source collimators, including a first z-axis collimator (1414 1) and a second z-axis collimator (1414 N), wherein the first z-axis collimator is disposed between the first focal spot and the examination region and the second z-axis collimator is disposed between the second focal spot and the examination region; and a collimator controller that is configured to independently control the at least two z-axis source collimators so as to collimate the first and second radiation so that that redundant information is not acquired by the detector array; and a detector array configured to detect radiation traversing the examination region and generates projection data indicative thereof.