An apparatus and method for acquiring an image of a predetermined extract of a moving printed product employs at least one black-and-white camera with a two-dimensional electronic image sensor and one or more illumination devices suitable for pulse-like illumination. The illumination device has multiple light sources forming spectral groups that have different spectral compositions. The light sources are arranged in a pattern such that the light sources of each spectral group completely illuminate the area of observation of the camera. A control device switches the individual spectral groups of light sources on and off sequentially such that the area of observation of the camera is illuminated with a sequence of light pulses of different spectral compositions. During each light pulse, the predetermined extract on a printed product moves into the area of observation of the camera, and an image of extract is captured.