Determining a pixon map for pixon smoothing of an object based on a data set includes receiving the data set and an input object associated to the data set. Determining a pixon map further includes determining, in a series of steps, statistical objects for a set of pixon kernel functions, wherein each step includes selecting a pixon kernel function from the set of pixon kernel functions, smoothing the input object on the basis of the selected pixon kernel function, thereby creating a smoothed object, and determining the statistical object for the selected pixon kernel function on the basis of the smoothed object, the data set, and a Mighell-like statistical weight. Determining a pixon map further includes determining contributions of the pixon kernel functions to the pixon map based on the statistical objects and assigning values to the pixon map corresponding to the contributions of the pixon kernel functions.