A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable storage medium is configured to effect QISS (quiescent interval single shot) MR imaging (e.g., MR angiography or MRA) where an optimized flip angle for one or more initial saturation pulses minimizes background signal from tissue and/or venous blood. Upon expiration of first configurable time interval from a start of a scan interval, at least one saturation pulse having a flip angle greater than ninety degrees is applied so that longitudinal magnetization of background tissue and venous blood in the selected area is approximately at a null value at the beginning of a readout time (occurring upon expiry of a second time interval) and/or when a lowest frequency of k-space data is acquired for the selected area.