In a method to determine an inversion time value for contrast improvement between different tissue in a contrast agent-supported magnetic resonance imaging, a series of magnetic resonance images of an imaging area is acquired using an inversion recovery sequence with different inversion times. A structure in the magnetic resonance images is segmented and a time response of the signal intensity of image elements corresponding to one another in the magnetic resonance images of the segmented structure is automatically determined. Minima of the signal intensity in the segmented structure are determined automatically and associated with the associated inversion time values. The optimal inversion time value for contrast improvement is automatically determined from the inversion time values that have been associated with the minima of the signal intensity in the segmented structure.