1. A computer-implemented picture processing system, comprising: a memory and a hardware processor respectively configured to store and execute instructions that implement computer-executable components, the computer-executable components comprising: an input component configured to receive a video signal associated with a picture, the picture including a multimodal energy distribution represented by a plurality of peaks along a luma signal spectrum; a mapping component configured to map the multimodal energy distribution of the picture to a new energy distribution, the new energy distribution compacted in dark and light regions to reduce bit-rate requirements of the dark and light regions and to enhance contrast in a mid-range region of the luma signal spectrum of the new energy distribution; a cost component configured to compute a cost associated with selection of the picture from a plurality of pictures and computing the new energy distribution of the picture relative to new energy distributions for the plurality of pictures; and a decoder configured to decode the video signal using the new energy distribution of the picture.