Imaging parameters, such as the location, orientation and field of view of an imaging plane are selected. These parameters are provided to a pulse sequencer of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner which modifies an MR pulse sequence to acquire an image at the selected imaging plane. The pulse sequencer controls an RF transmitter and gradient amplifiers to cause an MR image of the subject at an imaging plane to be acquired. The MR image is displayed on a display device. An interface device receives and reduces the MR image to an image icon and saves the image icon along with the corresponding imaging parameters. The image icons are displayed on the periphery of the screen around an MR image. An operator may then view and select one of the image icons, employing the pointing device. This causes the imaging parameters corresponding to the selected image icon to be sent to the pulse sequencer thereby causing an MR image to be acquired with these imaging parameters.