A computer implemented method for designing a spectral-spatial pulse for exciting at least one passband and minimally exciting at least one stopband is provided. A uniform shaped spectral envelope is generated. For a plurality of k.sub.z.noteq.0, k.sub.z dependent weights for a spectral envelope that approximate a k.sub.z=0 envelope and provides the at least one passband and the at least one stopband for each of the plurality of k.sub.z.noteq.0 is generated.