A method for creating a magnetic resonance image of an object with at least a first species and a second species, wherein the first species has a first T.sub.2 time and the second species has a second T.sub.2 time longer than the first T.sub.2 time is provided. An excitation with an ultra short echo time using a pulse is provided, comprising a first subpulse that creates a transverse magnetization component for the first species and the second species and a second subpulse that creates a transverse magnetization for the first species and substantially returns the second species to a longitudinal axis, wherein the transverse magnetization component substantially decays for the first species during an interval between the first subpulse and the second subpulse. At least one echo is read. A magnetic resonance image is created from the at least one echo.