Skipped macroblocks use exactly one motion vector and have no motion vector differential information, and lack residual information.

In a noise reduction process for image signals with a recursive filter (3, 4, 5), the fedback image signals (G*) are converted on the basis of the motion vector into the motion phase of the input image signals (S).

In the method the best motion vector candidate MVC providing the smallest sum of absolute differences SAD is searched for in two stages.