A closed loop register control system used in association with a printing press and comprising a television camera in combination with a strobe light and a solid state imaging device which enables continuous scanning of the sheet web. The apparatus of this invention also comprises a printing press console having associated therewith a digitizing tablet and a television monitor. The location of the area that is to be examined is defined by the pressman. The area to be examined may be selected by laying a proof sheet down on the digitizing tablet and recording the coordinates of the area of interest. This controls the camera and strobe light with the pressman selecting one part of the image as important and causing the register mechanism to maintain register in that selected area. Electronics then making comparisons between the detected image and a desired reference image to cause correction on a per color basis at the printing press stations.