Abstract: There is disclosed an improved NMR imaging method utilized for forming images of a subject by determining the relative densities of nuclei within the subject. A main magnetic field is applied to the subject to create aligned nuclear spins in the nuclei. Radio frequency energy is applied to the subject at a predetermined Larmor frequency to create a radio frequency field acting in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main magnetic field. A gradient magnetic field is applied to the subject along a selected axis at a time substantially coincident to the time of application of the radio frequency energy so that the nuclei in only a thin slice of the subject are excited. The application of radio frequency energy is terminated after a predetermined time. Thereafter, two time varying balanced gradient magnetic fields are applied to the subject along two perpendicular axes, which are both perpendicular to the first magnetic gradient field.