Method and apparatus for processing video pictures

Apparatus for processing video pictures for dynamic false contour effect compensation, each pixel of the video pictures having at least one colour component (RGB), the colour component values being digitally coded with a digital code word, hereinafter called sub-field code word, wherein to each bit of a sub-field code word a certain duration is assigned, hereinafter called sub-field, during which a colour component of the pixel can be activated for light generation, comprising:

• partitioning module for partitioning each of the video pictures into at least a first type of area and a second type of area according to an amplitude of an image-gradient within the area, a high image-gradient area and a low image-gradient area,
• allocating module for allocating a first set of sub-field code words to the first type of area and a second set of sub-field code words to the second type of area, the second set being a subset of the first set,
• encoding module for encoding the pixels of the first type of area with the first set of sub-field code words and encoding the pixels of the second type of area with the second set of sub-field code words,
• wherein, for at least one horizontal line of pixels comprising pixels of first type of area and pixels of second type of area, the partitioning module extends an area of second type in a direction towards pixels of the first type until a next pixel in the first type of area is a pixel encoded by a sub-field code word belonging to both first and second set of sub-field code words.