A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus adapted to produce an image representative of the vasculature of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a G x, G y and G z gradient coil set connected to G x, G y and G z gradient coil drivers; a RF coil connected to a RF transmitter and a receiver via a transmit/receive switch; a data processor; an MRI sequence controller that has access to an MRI data acquisition program code structure for implementing MRI data acquisition sequences; the MRI sequence controller configured to, by executing the program code structure control the G x, G y and G z gradient coil drivers and the RF transmitter and the transmit/receive switch to apply to an image slice of interest within the subject a spatially selective saturation pulse that saturates longitudinal magnetization of protons present in the slice of interest; and the MRI sequence controller further configured to, by executing the program code structure acquire non-contrast MRI signals from the slice of interest by applying an excitation pulse to the slice of interest when a predetermined time has passed after the application of the saturation pulse; wherein the MRI sequence controller is further configured to orient the slice of interest relative to the vasculature in such a manner that the slice of interest has an inflow edge through which blood flows into the slice of interest and an outflow edge through which blood flows out of the slice of interest, the inflow and outflow edges located opposite of each other across the slice of interest, and wherein the data processor is configured to reconstruct an image of the vasculature by using the acquired MRI signals and an image reconstruction program; CHARACTERISED IN THAT: the saturation pulse has a spatial profile that provides less saturation at the inflow edge and greater saturation at the outflow edge by providing a smaller nutation angle to any protons at the inflow edge than to any protons near at the outflow edge. a G x, G y and G z gradient coil set connected to G x, G y and G z gradient coil drivers; a RF coil connected to a RF transmitter and a receiver via a transmit/receive switch; a data processor; an MRI sequence controller that has access to an MRI data acquisition program code structure for implementing MRI data acquisition sequences; the MRI sequence controller configured to, by executing the program code structure control the G x, G y and G z gradient coil drivers and the RF transmitter and the transmit/receive switch to apply to an image slice of interest within the subject a spatially selective saturation pulse that saturates longitudinal magnetization of protons present in the slice of interest; and the MRI sequence controller further configured to, by executing the program code structure acquire non-contrast MRI signals from the slice of interest by applying an excitation pulse to the slice of interest when a predetermined time has passed after the application of the saturation pulse; wherein the MRI sequence controller is further configured to orient the slice of interest relative to the vasculature in such a manner that the slice of interest has an inflow edge through which blood flows into the slice of interest and an outflow edge through which blood flows out of the slice of interest, the inflow and outflow edges located opposite of each other across the slice of interest, and wherein the data processor is configured to reconstruct an image of the vasculature by using the acquired MRI signals and an image reconstruction program; CHARACTERISED IN THAT: the saturation pulse has a spatial profile that provides less saturation at the inflow edge and greater saturation at the outflow edge by providing a smaller nutation angle to any protons at the inflow edge than to any protons near at the outflow edge. the saturation pulse has a spatial profile that provides less saturation at the inflow edge and greater saturation at the outflow edge by providing a smaller nutation angle to any protons at the inflow edge than to any protons near at the outflow edge.