Simulated Mz patterns produced by π-pulses designed with the small-tip-angle (a,d), optimal control (b,e), and fast optimal control (c,f) methods, for an EP trajectory (a-c) with speedup factor = 3 (XFOV = 8 cm, pulse length 3.34 ms), and a spiral trajectory (d-f) with speedup factor = 4.8 (XFOV = 5 cm, pulse length 1.16 ms). The M z patterns excited by the optimal control methods are of higher quality than those excited by small-tip-designed pulses. The optimal control methods excite patterns of similar accuracy, though in the EP case pulses designed with the fast method excite a less uniform inversion region than the conventional method.