Methods and systems are provided for controlling an x-ray imaging system. In one embodiment, a method for an x-ray imaging system, includes acquiring, with the x-ray imaging system, a plurality of images as an x-ray tube current of the x-ray imaging system is ramping from a predefined x-ray tube current to an updated x-ray tube current, the updated x-ray tube current determined based on an estimated patient thickness estimated from a prior image acquired with the x-ray imaging system while the x-ray tube current is at the predefined x-ray tube current, combining the plurality of images into a final image, and outputting the final image for display via a display device.