A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, termed SPRITE (Single Point Ramped Imaging with T1 Enhancement) permits visualization of water content in previously inaccessible wood fiber systems. We demonstrate the superiority of SPRITE methods, in comparison to conventional MRI methods, for studying fluid content in low water content wood materials. SPRITE and conventional MRI images were acquired from four species of wood, equilibrated at multiple moisture content levels. Both methods were also used to examine relative moisture content during forced drying of a white ash wood sample
