In a method for the presentation of projection images or tomograms from 3D volume data of an examination volume, particularly from MR or CT volume data, a grayscale image of a prescribable projection or of a prescribable section that is composed of individual pixels is calculated from the 3D volume data. The distance of a voxel or partial volume of the examination volume represented by the pixel from a reference plane is determined for each pixel of the grayscale image, and a chromatic value corresponding to this distance is allocated to each pixel of the grayscale image, the chromatic value is obtained by color coding of the distance, and a projection image or tomogram is presented by overlaying or coloring the grayscale image with the chromatic values allocated to each pixel. The presentation of a projection image with an unambiguous and immediately understandable depth, information is thereby enabled.