A method for encoding a frame of visual data which includes the steps of encoding an original full resolution frame, storing coded data for the encoded full resolution frame, reconstructing and storing encoded full resolution frame, downsampling the original full resolution frame to render it a reduced spatial resolution frame, encoding the reduced spatial resolution frame, storing coded data for the reduced spatial resolution frame, reconstructing and storing the reduced spatial resolution frame, upsampling and storing the reconstructed reduced spatial resolution frame, comparing a characteristic in the reconstructed full resolution frame with said characteristic in the original full resolution frame to determine the deviation of the reconstructed full resolution frame from the original full resolution frame with respect to said characteristic, comparing said characteristic in the upsampled reconstructed spatial reduced resolution frame with said characteristic in the original full resolution frame to determine the deviation of the upsampled reconstructed spatial reduced resolution frame from the original full resolution frame with respect to said characteristic, selecting the frame with the lesser deviation from the original full resolution frame with respect to said characteristic, and outputting the coded data corresponding to the frame with the lesser deviation from the original full resolution frame with respect to said characteristic to the bitstream.