AbstractA magnetization‐prepared sequence, T2‐Prep‐IR, exploits T1, T2, and chemical shift differences to suppress background tissues relative to arterial blood. The resulting flow‐independent angiograms depict vessels with any orientation and flow velocity. No extrinsic contrast agent is required. Muscle is the dciminant source of background signal in normal volunteers. However, long‐T2 deep venous blood and nonvascular fluids such as edema also contribute background signal in some patients. Three sets of imaging parameters are described to address patient‐specific contrast requirements. A rapid, spiral‐based, three‐dimensional readout is utilized to generate high‐resolution angiograms of the lower extremities. Comparisons with x‐ray angiography and two‐dimensional time‐of‐flight angiography indicate that this flow‐independent technique has unique capabilities to accurately depict stenoses and to visualize slow flow and in‐plane vessels.