In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquiring image data using a sequence in which k-space corresponding to the imaging area is scanned in a first region of k-space, which does not include the center of k-space, radially along spokes emanating from the center of k-space, with at least two phase coding gradients being completely ramped up before the excitation pulse, and in a second central region of k-space, which remains without the first region, in a Cartesian manner. For contrast increase, a pre-pulse is provided before a predetermined number of individual measurements. A portion of the measurement points of the second region of k-space, which portion is situated nearest the center of k-space, is scanned as central measurement points after the first administration of the pre-pulse immediately following a zero crossing of the contrast-relevant magnetization of one of at least two materials in the image.