Encoding video for film grain synthesis

A method, comprising:

• performing, by a film grain description estimator implemented by one or more computing devices:
• receiving an input video comprising film grain;
• and
• analyzing the input video to generate a film grain description for the input video;
• and
• performing, by a video encoder implemented by one or more computing devices:
• receiving the input video;
• configuring, responsive to a determination the input video comprises film grain, one or more encoder settings to de-grain the input video as part of encoding to achieve a compression target;
• encoding, according to the configured encoder settings, the input video comprising film grain to de-grain the input video to produce encoded video achieving the compression target;
• and
• sending the encoded video and the film grain description to a video destination.

One or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed on or across one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• analyze an input video that comprises film grain to generate a film grain description for the input video;
• responsive to a determined presence of the film grain in the input video, configure one or more encoder settings to de-grain the input video as part of encoding to achieve a compression target;
• encode, according to the configured encoder settings, the input video comprising film grain to de-grain the input video to produce encoded video achieving the compression target;
• and
• send the encoded video and the film grain description to a video destination.