A video encoder identifies a current smooth region of a current picture in a sequence and performs temporal analysis by determining whether a corresponding region in at least one previous and/or future picture is smooth. Based at least in part on the temporal analysis, the encoder adjusts quantization in the current smooth region. An encoder determines a differential quantization interval for a sequence, the interval comprising an interval number. The interval constrains the encoder to skip differential quantization for at least the interval number of predicted pictures after a predicted differentially quantized picture. An encoder analyzes texture in a current picture and sets a smoothness threshold. The encoder compares texture data with the smoothness threshold and adjusts differential quantization for at least part of the current picture based on a finding of at least one smooth region in the current picture according to the smoothness threshold.