An operating area determination method and system are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a light amount control circuit that detects displacement in a sub-scanning direction of the main scanning line of a laser beam from the predetermined laser, from a reference position. The third semiconductor layer is formed in the recess of the second semiconductor layer and includes a seam or void in the recess. Further, the method includes modifying at least one scan sequencing parameter such that all colorflow imaging vectors are included in a colorflow region of interest.