Encoding apparatus, image capturing apparatus, control method, and storage medium

A control method executed by an encoding apparatus, comprising:

• determining whether a degree of flatness of pixel values in a first block among a plurality of blocks that compose an image exceeds a predetermined criterion;
• executing processing for selection of an intra prediction mode for the first block;
• in a case where it has been determined that the degree of flatness in the first block exceeds the predetermined criterion, controlling the processing for selection so as to increase a possibility that the intra prediction mode for the first block is different from each of one or more intra prediction modes for respective one or more reference blocks, the one or more reference blocks being one or more blocks, among the plurality of blocks, including a pixel that is referred to for intra predictive encoding of the first block in accordance with the intra prediction mode for the first block;
• and
• applying intra predictive encoding to the first block in accordance with the intra prediction mode selected through the processing for selection.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to execute a control method comprising:

• determining whether a degree of flatness of pixel values in a first block among a plurality of blocks that compose an image exceeds a predetermined criterion;
• executing processing for selection of an intra prediction mode for the first block;
• in a case where it has been determined that the degree of flatness in the first block exceeds the predetermined criterion, controlling the processing for selection so as to increase a possibility that the intra prediction mode for the first block is different from each of one or more intra prediction modes for respective one or more reference blocks, the one or more reference blocks being one or more blocks, among the plurality of blocks, including a pixel that is referred to for intra predictive encoding of the first block in accordance with the intra prediction mode for the first block;
• and
• applying intra predictive encoding to the first block in accordance with the intra prediction mode selected through the processing for selection.