A radiographic imaging system (500; 550) configured to capture and process a radiographic image of a subject, the radiographic imaging system (500, 550) comprising: an x-ray source; an x-ray detector; an automatic exposure control device, AEC, coupled to the x-ray source and configured to shutdown the x-ray source when the AEC receives an amount of x-ray energy from the x-ray source that satisfies a preset threshold; and a processing system (34; 36) configured to: control the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, and process the radiographic image of the subject captured by the x-ray detector; receive a size input from an operator indicating a size of the subject to be radiographically imaged and set the preset threshold for the AEC using known parameters of the radiographic imaging system (500; 550) for the size input from the operator; receive a request whether or not to execute a program for reducing x-ray scatter noise in the captured radiographic image; if the program will be used: increase the preset threshold of the AEC according to a formula that is based on the size input from the operator; and initiate a standard procedure for beginning a radiographic examination using the increased threshold of the AEC; and if the program will not be used: initiate the standard procedure for beginning the radiographic examination using the preset threshold of the AEC. an x-ray source; an x-ray detector; an automatic exposure control device, AEC, coupled to the x-ray source and configured to shutdown the x-ray source when the AEC receives an amount of x-ray energy from the x-ray source that satisfies a preset threshold; and a processing system (34; 36) configured to: control the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, and process the radiographic image of the subject captured by the x-ray detector; receive a size input from an operator indicating a size of the subject to be radiographically imaged and set the preset threshold for the AEC using known parameters of the radiographic imaging system (500; 550) for the size input from the operator; receive a request whether or not to execute a program for reducing x-ray scatter noise in the captured radiographic image; if the program will be used: increase the preset threshold of the AEC according to a formula that is based on the size input from the operator; and initiate a standard procedure for beginning a radiographic examination using the increased threshold of the AEC; and if the program will not be used: initiate the standard procedure for beginning the radiographic examination using the preset threshold of the AEC. control the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, and process the radiographic image of the subject captured by the x-ray detector; receive a size input from an operator indicating a size of the subject to be radiographically imaged and set the preset threshold for the AEC using known parameters of the radiographic imaging system (500; 550) for the size input from the operator; receive a request whether or not to execute a program for reducing x-ray scatter noise in the captured radiographic image; if the program will be used: increase the preset threshold of the AEC according to a formula that is based on the size input from the operator; and initiate a standard procedure for beginning a radiographic examination using the increased threshold of the AEC; and if the program will not be used: initiate the standard procedure for beginning the radiographic examination using the preset threshold of the AEC. if the program will be used: increase the preset threshold of the AEC according to a formula that is based on the size input from the operator; and initiate a standard procedure for beginning a radiographic examination using the increased threshold of the AEC; and increase the preset threshold of the AEC according to a formula that is based on the size input from the operator; and initiate a standard procedure for beginning a radiographic examination using the increased threshold of the AEC; and if the program will not be used: initiate the standard procedure for beginning the radiographic examination using the preset threshold of the AEC.