The invention discloses a method of imaging an object (10) placed in a
magnetic field, comprising: subjecting the object (10) to a contrast preparation sequence (PRE) comprising at least one preparation radiofrequency, RF, pulse to non-selectively or selectively, partially or completely manipulate nuclear
magnetization; subjecting the object (10) to an imaging sequence (IM) comprising at least one excitation RF pulse and switched
magnetic field gradients to generate magnetic
resonance, MR, signals, wherein the imaging sequence (IM) starts immediately after the preparation sequence (PRE) and samples a central portion of k-space (C) during a first time interval (TI1) encompassing a target time point at which the nuclear
magnetization assumes a desired state after the contrast preparation sequence (PRE), and subsequently samples
peripheral portions (PN, PP) of k-space during a second time interval (TI2); acquiring the MR signals from the object (10); and reconstructing an MR image from the acquired MR signals, wherein the
visibility of particular tissues, structures, or
pathological conditions within the object (10) is enhanced in the MR image by the contrast preparation sequence (PRE). A
system is further disclosed, comprising a computational
system configured to perform the method.