An optical imaging system is disclosed for selective thermal transfer of a material from a donor film to a substrate. The imaging system includes a light source assembly that is configured to emit a patterned light beam. The patterned light beam includes a plurality of discrete output light segments where the segments at most partially overlap. The imaging system further includes a light relay assembly that receives and projects the plurality of discrete output light segments onto a transfer plane so as to form a projected light segment by a substantial superposition of the plurality of discrete output light segments. When a donor film that includes a transferable material is placed proximate a substrate that lies in the transfer plane, the projected light segment is capable of inducing a transfer of the transferable material onto the substrate.