Systems and methods for illuminating and imaging objects

An illumination system, comprising:

• a surface configured to have an imaging target placed thereon;
• a light source configured to emit a beam of light;
• a beam splitter configured to split the beam of light from the light source into a first beam and a second beam, wherein the second beam illuminates the surface;
• a first illumination mirror configured to reflect the first beam from the beam splitter to provide a reflected first beam that illuminates the surface, wherein the first beam, the second beam, the first reflected beam, and the second reflected beam, are positioned on the same side as the surface relative to the first illumination mirror, wherein the beam splitter has a first end and a second end, and wherein the beam splitter splits optical power from the beam of light differently at the first end than at the second end;
• and
• an imager, the imager comprising:
• an imaging mirror;
• and
• a capturing device configured to capture an image of the imaging target through a path that extends from the imaging target, reflects off of the imaging mirror, and to the capturing device, wherein the imaging mirror, the capturing device, or both are configured to move in a diagonal direction with respect to the surface to reduce a length of the path.