A method of processing image data in a connectionist network includes: determining, a plurality of offsets, each offset representing an individual location shift of an underlying one of the plurality of output picture elements, determining, from the plurality of offsets, a grid for sampling from the plurality of input picture elements, wherein the grid comprises a plurality of sampling locations, each sampling location being defined by means of a respective pair of one of the plurality of offsets and the underlying one of the plurality of output picture elements, sampling from the plurality of input picture elements in accordance with the grid, and transmitting, as output data for at least a subsequent one of the plurality of units of the connectionist network, a plurality of sampled picture elements resulting from the sampling, wherein the plurality of sampled picture elements form the plurality of output picture elements.