Heating of surfaces by optical beams is investigated theoretically and compared with experimental results in the context of infrared imaging with vanadium dioxide thin films. Using known solutions for the diffusion of point heat sources at the interface between two semi-infinite media, the theory is extended to beams of Gaussian and flat profiles, for steady-state and dynamic regimes. Parameters relevant to imaging, such as spatial resolution and response time, are linked to thermal diffusivity, beam dimensions, and intensity.