Coding tools are described for subjective quality improvements in video codecs. Some embodiments pertain to a method that includes receiving video frames, generating a segmentation map of a received video frame, determining features of a segment of the segmentation map, determining if the segment has a skip or a reference frame feature, and if the segment has one of a skip or a reference frame feature, then classifying the segment as an active segment and attaching an active segment identifier to the segment.