| abstract |
An image encoding method according to the present invention includes a context arithmetic coding step (S511) that, by means of context arithmetic coding that is arithmetic coding that uses a variable probability, successively encodes (i) first information that indicates whether to perform sample adaptive offset (SAO) processing, which is offset processing for a pixel value, with respect to a first area of an image, and (ii) second information that indicates, for SAO processing with respect to the first area, whether to use information from SAO processing with respect to an area different from the first area, and a bypass arithmetic coding step (S512) that, after the first information and second information have been encoded and by means of bypass arithmetic coding that is arithmetic coding that uses a constant probability, encodes other information that is information for SAO processing with respect to the first area and is different from both the second information and the first information. |