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Convolution function
ArcMap 10.3
|
Other versions

10.5

10.4

10.3

The Convolution function performs filtering on the pixel values in an image, which can be used for sharpening an image,
blurring an image, detecting edges within an image, or other kernelbased enhancements.

The inputs for this function are the following:

Input Raster
Type
Kernel

Convolution filter types

Filters are used to improve the quality of the raster image by eliminating spurious data or enhancing features in the data.
These convolution filters are applied on a moving, overlapping kernel window or neighborhood, such as 3 by 3.
Convolution filters work by calculating the pixel value based on the weighting of its neighbors.

There are a number of convolution filter types you can choose within this function. You can also specify a User Defined
type and enter your own kernel values.

You can apply a median filter to the image by specifying a weight of 1/9 for a 3 by 3 kernel, thereby giving every pixel in
the kernel an equal weight. This filter can be used to smooth an image. There are other kernels that can be used to
sharpen or enhance edges. You can combine filters to achieve specific results. For example, you may want to apply a filter
that will remove speckle or smooth an image, then apply a filter that will detect edges.

For optimal display results, you may want to apply a histogram stretch to adjust the image's contrast or brightness to help
pull out features.

The examples below are applied on one of these two images:

Unfiltered grayscale image

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Unfiltered color image

Edge detection filters

Gradient types

Gradient filters can be used for edge detection in 45degree increments.

Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient East 101

202
101

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient North 121

000
121

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Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient NorthEast 012

101
210

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient NorthWest 210

101
012

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient South 121

000
121

A 3 by 3 filter

Gradient West 101

202
101

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Laplacian types

Laplacian filters are often used for edge detection. It is often applied to an image that has first been smoothed to reduce
its sensitivity to noise.

Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Laplacian 3x3 010

141
010

A 5 by 5 filter

00100
Laplacian 5x5 01210
121721
01210
00100

Line Detection types

Line detection filters, like the gradient filters, can be used to perform edge detection.

You may get better results if you apply a smoothing algorithm before an edge detection algorithm.

Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Line Detection Horizontal 111

222
111

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Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Line Detection Left Diagonal 211

121
112

A 3 by 3 filter

Line Detection Right Diagonal 112

121
211

A 3 by 3 filter

Line Detection Vertical 101

121
121

Sobel types

The Sobel filter is used for edge detection.

Type Description Example

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A 3 by 3 filter

Sobel Horizontal 121

000
121

A 3 by 3 filter

Sobel Vertical 101

202
101

Sharpening and Smoothing filters

Sharpening types

The Sharpening highpass filter accentuates the comparative difference in the values with its neighbors. A highpass filter
calculates the focal sum statistic for each cell of the input using a weighted kernel neighborhood. It brings out the
boundaries between features for example, where a water body meets the forest, thus sharpening edges between objects.
The highpass filter is referred to as an edge enhancement filter. The highpass filter kernel identifies which cells to use in
the neighborhood and how much to weight them multiply them by.

Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Sharpen 00.250
0.2520.25
00.250

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Type Description Example

A 3 by 3 filter

Sharpen II 0.250.250.25
0.2530.25
0.250.250.25

A highpass 3 by 3 filter

Sharpening 3x3 111

191
111

A highpass 5 by 5 filter

13431
Sharpening 5x5 30603
462164
30603
13431

Smoothing types

Smoothing lowpass filters smooth the data by reducing local variation and removing noise. The lowpass filter calculates
the average mean value for each neighborhood. The effect is that the high and low values within each neighborhood will
be averaged out, reducing the extreme values in the data.

Type Description Example

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A 3 by 3 filter

Smooth Arithmetic Mean 0.1110.1110.111

0.1110.1110.111
0.1110.1110.111

A lowpass 3 by 3 filter

Smoothing 3x3 121

242
121

A lowpass 5 by 5 filter

11111
Smoothing 5x5 14441
141241
14441
11111

Other filters
Point spread type

The point spread function portrays the distribution of light from a point source through a lense. This will introduce a slight
blurring effect.

Type Description Example

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A 3 by 3 filter

Point Spread 0.6270.3520.627

0.3522.9230.352
0.6270.3520.627

Related Topics
What are the functions used by a raster or mosaic dataset?
Editing function chains in a mosaic dataset

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