Systems and methods for determining scan parameters to be used during image acquisition are provided. Values of imaging effects can be input using user controls accessible from a user interface. A processor can determine scan parameters to be used during image acquisition based on the input imaging effect values. The determined scan parameters can be displayed using the user interface. Values of imaging effects and potential ranges of values of imaging effects can be constrained based on selected values of other imaging effects. Imaging effects can include image resolution, image penetration, frame rate and/or color flow sensitivity. Scan parameters can include: line density, number of focal zones, frequency, dynamic range, pulse repetition frequency, and/or number of compounding angles. An ultrasound imaging system can be used to acquire images using the determined scan parameters.