A method of correcting warping of an acquired image in an MRI system, caused by non-linearities in gradient field profiles of gradient coils is set forth, comprising a) constructing a computer model representing conducting pathways for each gradient coil in said MRI system; b) calculating a predicted magnetic field at each point in space for each said gradient coil in said model; c) measuring actual magnetic field at each point in space for each said gradient coil in said MRI system; d) verifying accuracy of said model by comparing said predicted magnetic field to said actual magnetic field at each said point in space and in the event said model is not accurate then repeating a)-d), and in the event said model is accurate then; constructing a distortion map for mapping coordinates in real space to coordinates in warped space of said acquired image based on deviations of said predicted magnetic field from linearity; and unwarping said warping of the acquired image using said distortion map.