In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, a flip angle and/or inversion time of a spectrum suppression pulse is calculated according to a steady state condition of a longitudinal magnetization component of a spectrum composition suppressed by the spectrum suppression pulse and a zero crossing point condition of the longitudinal magnetization component. Raw magnetic resonance image data are acquired by applying a magnetic resonance imaging sequence that includes the spectrum suppression pulse provided with the flip angle and/or the inversion time.