System and method can support an image processing device. The image processing device operates to obtain a first set of characterization values, which represents a first group of pixels that are associated with a denoising pixel in an image. Also, the image processing device can obtain a second set of characterization values, which represents a second group of pixels that are associated with a denoising reference pixel. Furthermore, the image processing device operates to use the first set of characterization values and the second set of characterization values to determine a similarity between the denoising pixel and the denoising reference pixel. Then, the image processing device can calculate a denoised value for the denoising pixel based on the determined similarity between the denoising pixel and the denoising reference pixel.