A method for determining imaging technique parameters for a photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) system, the steps of the method comprising: (a) selecting imaging technique parameters for the PCCT system; (b) generating a first signal estimate and a first noise estimate associated with the imaging technique parameters by performing a first virtual scan using the imaging technique parameters to generate the first signal estimate and the first noise estimate; (c) computing optimal imaging technique parameters using an optimization based on a signal estimation and noise propagation analysis in which each iteration of the optimization includes: (i) updating the imaging technique parameters; (ii) generating a second signal estimate and a second noise estimate associated with the updated imaging technique parameters by performing a second virtual scan using the updated imaging technique parameters to generate the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iii) generating a first figure of merit value using the first signal estimate and the first noise estimate, and generating a second figure of merit value using the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iv) evaluating a stopping criterion based on comparing the first figure of merit value and the second figure of merit value; (v) storing the second signal estimate as the first signal estimate and storing the second noise estimate as the first noise estimate when the stopping criterion is not satisfied; and (vi) storing the updated imaging technique parameters as the optimal imaging technique parameters for later use with the PCCT system when the stopping criterion is satisfied. (a) selecting imaging technique parameters for the PCCT system; (b) generating a first signal estimate and a first noise estimate associated with the imaging technique parameters by performing a first virtual scan using the imaging technique parameters to generate the first signal estimate and the first noise estimate; (c) computing optimal imaging technique parameters using an optimization based on a signal estimation and noise propagation analysis in which each iteration of the optimization includes: (i) updating the imaging technique parameters; (ii) generating a second signal estimate and a second noise estimate associated with the updated imaging technique parameters by performing a second virtual scan using the updated imaging technique parameters to generate the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iii) generating a first figure of merit value using the first signal estimate and the first noise estimate, and generating a second figure of merit value using the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iv) evaluating a stopping criterion based on comparing the first figure of merit value and the second figure of merit value; (v) storing the second signal estimate as the first signal estimate and storing the second noise estimate as the first noise estimate when the stopping criterion is not satisfied; and (vi) storing the updated imaging technique parameters as the optimal imaging technique parameters for later use with the PCCT system when the stopping criterion is satisfied. (i) updating the imaging technique parameters; (ii) generating a second signal estimate and a second noise estimate associated with the updated imaging technique parameters by performing a second virtual scan using the updated imaging technique parameters to generate the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iii) generating a first figure of merit value using the first signal estimate and the first noise estimate, and generating a second figure of merit value using the second signal estimate and the second noise estimate; (iv) evaluating a stopping criterion based on comparing the first figure of merit value and the second figure of merit value; (v) storing the second signal estimate as the first signal estimate and storing the second noise estimate as the first noise estimate when the stopping criterion is not satisfied; and (vi) storing the updated imaging technique parameters as the optimal imaging technique parameters for later use with the PCCT system when the stopping criterion is satisfied.