1. A method for encoding a picture, comprising the steps of: (A) generating at least one respective macroblock statistic from each of a plurality of macroblocks in said picture, the at least one respective macroblock statistic being selected from a group that consists of a luminance motion value, a luminance DC value, a luminance high-frequency value, a spatial edge strength value and a temporal edge strength value; (B) generating at least one global statistic from said picture by averaging the at least one respective macroblock static of the plurality of macroblocks over said picture; and (C) generating a respective macroblock quantization parameter for each of said macroblocks based on both (i) said at least one respective macroblock statistic and (ii) said at least one global statistic.