Adaptive loop filtering (ALF) for video coding

A method comprising:

• determining whether sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering is applied to a reconstructed picture in a video encoder, wherein the SAO filtering compensates for an intensity shift in the reconstructed picture;
• estimating parameters of an adaptive loop filter based on whether the SAO filtering is applied to the reconstructed picture, wherein the parameters of the adaptive loop filter include a plurality of coefficients and selectively include an offset parameter, the selection based on whether the SAO filtering is applied to the reconstructed picture;
• and
• applying the adaptive loop filter to at least some pixels of the reconstructed picture based on the estimated parameters, wherein the adaptive loop filter includes symmetric 2D finite impulse response (FIR) filters.