diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 1d42bbe0fa..d3ad82edb4 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -4690,30 +4690,8 @@ void avcodec_get_chroma_sub_sample(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt, int *h_shift, int
  */
 unsigned int avcodec_pix_fmt_to_codec_tag(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt);
 
-#define FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION  0x0001 /**< loss due to resolution change */
-#define FF_LOSS_DEPTH       0x0002 /**< loss due to color depth change */
-#define FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE  0x0004 /**< loss due to color space conversion */
-#define FF_LOSS_ALPHA       0x0008 /**< loss of alpha bits */
-#define FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT  0x0010 /**< loss due to color quantization */
-#define FF_LOSS_CHROMA      0x0020 /**< loss of chroma (e.g. RGB to gray conversion) */
-
 /**
- * Compute what kind of losses will occur when converting from one specific
- * pixel format to another.
- * When converting from one pixel format to another, information loss may occur.
- * For example, when converting from RGB24 to GRAY, the color information will
- * be lost. Similarly, other losses occur when converting from some formats to
- * other formats. These losses can involve loss of chroma, but also loss of
- * resolution, loss of color depth, loss due to the color space conversion, loss
- * of the alpha bits or loss due to color quantization.
- * avcodec_get_fix_fmt_loss() informs you about the various types of losses
- * which will occur when converting from one pixel format to another.
- *
- * @param[in] dst_pix_fmt destination pixel format
- * @param[in] src_pix_fmt source pixel format
- * @param[in] has_alpha Whether the source pixel format alpha channel is used.
- * @return Combination of flags informing you what kind of losses will occur
- * (maximum loss for an invalid dst_pix_fmt).
+ * @deprecated see av_get_pix_fmt_loss()
  */
 int avcodec_get_pix_fmt_loss(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt, enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
                              int has_alpha);
@@ -4740,34 +4718,7 @@ enum AVPixelFormat avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_list(const enum AVPixelFormat *p
                                             int has_alpha, int *loss_ptr);
 
 /**
- * Find the best pixel format to convert to given a certain source pixel
- * format and a selection of two destination pixel formats. When converting from
- * one pixel format to another, information loss may occur.  For example, when converting
- * from RGB24 to GRAY, the color information will be lost. Similarly, other losses occur when
- * converting from some formats to other formats. avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2() selects which of
- * the given pixel formats should be used to suffer the least amount of loss.
- *
- * If one of the destination formats is AV_PIX_FMT_NONE the other pixel format (if valid) will be
- * returned.
- *
- * @code
- * src_pix_fmt = AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
- * dst_pix_fmt1= AV_PIX_FMT_RGB24;
- * dst_pix_fmt2= AV_PIX_FMT_GRAY8;
- * dst_pix_fmt3= AV_PIX_FMT_RGB8;
- * loss= FF_LOSS_CHROMA; // don't care about chroma loss, so chroma loss will be ignored.
- * dst_pix_fmt = avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(dst_pix_fmt1, dst_pix_fmt2, src_pix_fmt, alpha, &loss);
- * dst_pix_fmt = avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(dst_pix_fmt, dst_pix_fmt3, src_pix_fmt, alpha, &loss);
- * @endcode
- *
- * @param[in] dst_pix_fmt1 One of the two destination pixel formats to choose from
- * @param[in] dst_pix_fmt2 The other of the two destination pixel formats to choose from
- * @param[in] src_pix_fmt Source pixel format
- * @param[in] has_alpha Whether the source pixel format alpha channel is used.
- * @param[in, out] loss_ptr Combination of loss flags. In: selects which of the losses to ignore, i.e.
- *                               NULL or value of zero means we care about all losses. Out: the loss
- *                               that occurs when converting from src to selected dst pixel format.
- * @return The best pixel format to convert to or -1 if none was found.
+ * @deprecated see av_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2()
  */
 enum AVPixelFormat avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt1, enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt2,
                                             enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt, int has_alpha, int *loss_ptr);
diff --git a/libavcodec/imgconvert.c b/libavcodec/imgconvert.c
index cabd3fd26b..27c984a670 100644
--- a/libavcodec/imgconvert.c
+++ b/libavcodec/imgconvert.c
@@ -40,12 +40,6 @@
 #include "libavutil/pixdesc.h"
 #include "libavutil/imgutils.h"
 
-#define FF_COLOR_NA      -1
-#define FF_COLOR_RGB      0 /**< RGB color space */
-#define FF_COLOR_GRAY     1 /**< gray color space */
-#define FF_COLOR_YUV      2 /**< YUV color space. 16 <= Y <= 235, 16 <= U, V <= 240 */
-#define FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG 3 /**< YUV color space. 0 <= Y <= 255, 0 <= U, V <= 255 */
-
 #if HAVE_MMX_EXTERNAL
 #define deinterlace_line_inplace ff_deinterlace_line_inplace_mmx
 #define deinterlace_line         ff_deinterlace_line_mmx
@@ -54,10 +48,6 @@
 #define deinterlace_line         deinterlace_line_c
 #endif
 
-#define pixdesc_has_alpha(pixdesc) \
-    ((pixdesc)->nb_components == 2 || (pixdesc)->nb_components == 4 || (pixdesc)->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_PAL)
-
-
 void avcodec_get_chroma_sub_sample(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt, int *h_shift, int *v_shift)
 {
     const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(pix_fmt);
@@ -66,189 +56,17 @@ void avcodec_get_chroma_sub_sample(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt, int *h_shift, int
     *v_shift = desc->log2_chroma_h;
 }
 
-static int get_color_type(const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc) {
-    if (desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_PAL)
-        return FF_COLOR_RGB;
-
-    if(desc->nb_components == 1 || desc->nb_components == 2)
-        return FF_COLOR_GRAY;
-
-    if(desc->name && !strncmp(desc->name, "yuvj", 4))
-        return FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG;
-
-    if(desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_RGB)
-        return  FF_COLOR_RGB;
-
-    if(desc->nb_components == 0)
-        return FF_COLOR_NA;
-
-    return FF_COLOR_YUV;
-}
-
-static int get_pix_fmt_depth(int *min, int *max, enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt)
-{
-    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(pix_fmt);
-    int i;
-
-    if (!desc || !desc->nb_components) {
-        *min = *max = 0;
-        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
-    }
-
-    *min = INT_MAX, *max = -INT_MAX;
-    for (i = 0; i < desc->nb_components; i++) {
-        *min = FFMIN(desc->comp[i].depth_minus1+1, *min);
-        *max = FFMAX(desc->comp[i].depth_minus1+1, *max);
-    }
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int get_pix_fmt_score(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt,
-                              enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
-                              unsigned *lossp, unsigned consider)
-{
-    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *src_desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(src_pix_fmt);
-    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *dst_desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt);
-    int src_color, dst_color;
-    int src_min_depth, src_max_depth, dst_min_depth, dst_max_depth;
-    int ret, loss, i, nb_components;
-    int score = INT_MAX - 1;
-
-    if (dst_pix_fmt >= AV_PIX_FMT_NB || dst_pix_fmt <= AV_PIX_FMT_NONE)
-        return ~0;
-
-    /* compute loss */
-    *lossp = loss = 0;
-
-    if (dst_pix_fmt == src_pix_fmt)
-        return INT_MAX;
-
-    if ((ret = get_pix_fmt_depth(&src_min_depth, &src_max_depth, src_pix_fmt)) < 0)
-        return ret;
-    if ((ret = get_pix_fmt_depth(&dst_min_depth, &dst_max_depth, dst_pix_fmt)) < 0)
-        return ret;
-
-    src_color = get_color_type(src_desc);
-    dst_color = get_color_type(dst_desc);
-    if (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8)
-        nb_components = FFMIN(src_desc->nb_components, 4);
-    else
-        nb_components = FFMIN(src_desc->nb_components, dst_desc->nb_components);
-
-    for (i = 0; i < nb_components; i++) {
-        int depth_minus1 = (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8) ? 7/nb_components : dst_desc->comp[i].depth_minus1;
-        if (src_desc->comp[i].depth_minus1 > depth_minus1 && (consider & FF_LOSS_DEPTH)) {
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_DEPTH;
-            score -= 65536 >> depth_minus1;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if (consider & FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION) {
-        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_w > src_desc->log2_chroma_w) {
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION;
-            score -= 256 << dst_desc->log2_chroma_w;
-        }
-        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_h > src_desc->log2_chroma_h) {
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION;
-            score -= 256 << dst_desc->log2_chroma_h;
-        }
-        // don't favor 422 over 420 if downsampling is needed, because 420 has much better support on the decoder side
-        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_w == 1 && src_desc->log2_chroma_w == 0 &&
-            dst_desc->log2_chroma_h == 1 && src_desc->log2_chroma_h == 0 ) {
-            score += 512;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if(consider & FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE)
-    switch(dst_color) {
-    case FF_COLOR_RGB:
-        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_RGB &&
-            src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
-        break;
-    case FF_COLOR_GRAY:
-        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
-        break;
-    case FF_COLOR_YUV:
-        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV)
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
-        break;
-    case FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG:
-        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG &&
-            src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV &&
-            src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
-        break;
-    default:
-        /* fail safe test */
-        if (src_color != dst_color)
-            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
-        break;
-    }
-    if(loss & FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE)
-        score -= (nb_components * 65536) >> FFMIN(dst_desc->comp[0].depth_minus1, src_desc->comp[0].depth_minus1);
-
-    if (dst_color == FF_COLOR_GRAY &&
-        src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY && (consider & FF_LOSS_CHROMA)) {
-        loss |= FF_LOSS_CHROMA;
-        score -= 2 * 65536;
-    }
-    if (!pixdesc_has_alpha(dst_desc) && (pixdesc_has_alpha(src_desc) && (consider & FF_LOSS_ALPHA))) {
-        loss |= FF_LOSS_ALPHA;
-        score -= 65536;
-    }
-    if (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8 && (consider & FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT) &&
-        (src_pix_fmt != AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8 && (src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY || (pixdesc_has_alpha(src_desc) && (consider & FF_LOSS_ALPHA))))) {
-        loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT;
-        score -= 65536;
-    }
-
-    *lossp = loss;
-    return score;
-}
-
 int avcodec_get_pix_fmt_loss(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt,
                              enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
                              int has_alpha)
 {
-    int loss;
-    int ret = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt, src_pix_fmt, &loss, has_alpha ? ~0 : ~FF_LOSS_ALPHA);
-    if (ret < 0)
-        return ret;
-    return loss;
+    return av_get_pix_fmt_loss(dst_pix_fmt, src_pix_fmt, has_alpha);
 }
 
 enum AVPixelFormat avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt1, enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt2,
                                             enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt, int has_alpha, int *loss_ptr)
 {
-    enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt;
-    int loss1, loss2, loss_mask;
-    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc1 = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt1);
-    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc2 = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt2);
-    int score1, score2;
-
-    loss_mask= loss_ptr?~*loss_ptr:~0; /* use loss mask if provided */
-    if(!has_alpha)
-        loss_mask &= ~FF_LOSS_ALPHA;
-
-    dst_pix_fmt = AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
-    score1 = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt1, src_pix_fmt, &loss1, loss_mask);
-    score2 = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt2, src_pix_fmt, &loss2, loss_mask);
-
-    if (score1 == score2) {
-        if(av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc2) != av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc1)) {
-            dst_pix_fmt = av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc2) < av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc1) ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
-        } else {
-            dst_pix_fmt = desc2->nb_components < desc1->nb_components ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
-        }
-    } else {
-        dst_pix_fmt = score1 < score2 ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
-    }
-
-    if (loss_ptr)
-        *loss_ptr = avcodec_get_pix_fmt_loss(dst_pix_fmt, src_pix_fmt, has_alpha);
-    return dst_pix_fmt;
+    return av_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(dst_pix_fmt1, dst_pix_fmt2, src_pix_fmt, has_alpha, loss_ptr);
 }
 
 #if AV_HAVE_INCOMPATIBLE_LIBAV_ABI
@@ -657,7 +475,7 @@ int main(void){
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "%3d unused pixel format values\n", skip);
             skip = 0;
         }
-        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "pix fmt %s yuv_plan:%d avg_bpp:%d colortype:%d\n", desc->name, is_yuv_planar(desc), av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc), get_color_type(desc));
+        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "pix fmt %s yuv_plan:%d avg_bpp:%d\n", desc->name, is_yuv_planar(desc), av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc));
         if ((!(desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_ALPHA)) != (desc->nb_components != 2 && desc->nb_components != 4)) {
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Alpha flag mismatch\n");
             err = 1;
diff --git a/libavfilter/avfiltergraph.c b/libavfilter/avfiltergraph.c
index cfa4a44ddd..47b5b721e8 100644
--- a/libavfilter/avfiltergraph.c
+++ b/libavfilter/avfiltergraph.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "libavutil/internal.h"
 #include "libavutil/opt.h"
 #include "libavutil/pixdesc.h"
-#include "libavcodec/avcodec.h" // avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2()
 
 #include "avfilter.h"
 #include "formats.h"
@@ -628,7 +627,7 @@ static int pick_format(AVFilterLink *link, AVFilterLink *ref)
             int i;
             for (i=0; i<link->in_formats->nb_formats; i++) {
                 enum AVPixelFormat p = link->in_formats->formats[i];
-                best= avcodec_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(best, p, ref->format, has_alpha, NULL);
+                best= av_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(best, p, ref->format, has_alpha, NULL);
             }
             av_log(link->src,AV_LOG_DEBUG, "picking %s out of %d ref:%s alpha:%d\n",
                    av_get_pix_fmt_name(best), link->in_formats->nb_formats,
diff --git a/libavutil/Makefile b/libavutil/Makefile
index d2ebebcb29..a345024722 100644
--- a/libavutil/Makefile
+++ b/libavutil/Makefile
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ TESTPROGS = adler32                                                     \
             opt                                                         \
             pca                                                         \
             parseutils                                                  \
+            pixdesc                                                     \
             random_seed                                                 \
             rational                                                    \
             ripemd                                                      \
diff --git a/libavutil/pixdesc.c b/libavutil/pixdesc.c
index 036481aa7a..6b1b05f3fa 100644
--- a/libavutil/pixdesc.c
+++ b/libavutil/pixdesc.c
@@ -2082,3 +2082,226 @@ enum AVPixelFormat av_pix_fmt_swap_endianness(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt)
 
     return get_pix_fmt_internal(name);
 }
+
+#define FF_COLOR_NA      -1
+#define FF_COLOR_RGB      0 /**< RGB color space */
+#define FF_COLOR_GRAY     1 /**< gray color space */
+#define FF_COLOR_YUV      2 /**< YUV color space. 16 <= Y <= 235, 16 <= U, V <= 240 */
+#define FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG 3 /**< YUV color space. 0 <= Y <= 255, 0 <= U, V <= 255 */
+
+#define pixdesc_has_alpha(pixdesc) \
+    ((pixdesc)->nb_components == 2 || (pixdesc)->nb_components == 4 || (pixdesc)->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_PAL)
+
+
+static int get_color_type(const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc) {
+    if (desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_PAL)
+        return FF_COLOR_RGB;
+
+    if(desc->nb_components == 1 || desc->nb_components == 2)
+        return FF_COLOR_GRAY;
+
+    if(desc->name && !strncmp(desc->name, "yuvj", 4))
+        return FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG;
+
+    if(desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_RGB)
+        return  FF_COLOR_RGB;
+
+    if(desc->nb_components == 0)
+        return FF_COLOR_NA;
+
+    return FF_COLOR_YUV;
+}
+
+static int get_pix_fmt_depth(int *min, int *max, enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt)
+{
+    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(pix_fmt);
+    int i;
+
+    if (!desc || !desc->nb_components) {
+        *min = *max = 0;
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+    }
+
+    *min = INT_MAX, *max = -INT_MAX;
+    for (i = 0; i < desc->nb_components; i++) {
+        *min = FFMIN(desc->comp[i].depth_minus1+1, *min);
+        *max = FFMAX(desc->comp[i].depth_minus1+1, *max);
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int get_pix_fmt_score(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt,
+                              enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
+                              unsigned *lossp, unsigned consider)
+{
+    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *src_desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(src_pix_fmt);
+    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *dst_desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt);
+    int src_color, dst_color;
+    int src_min_depth, src_max_depth, dst_min_depth, dst_max_depth;
+    int ret, loss, i, nb_components;
+    int score = INT_MAX - 1;
+
+    if (dst_pix_fmt >= AV_PIX_FMT_NB || dst_pix_fmt <= AV_PIX_FMT_NONE)
+        return ~0;
+
+    /* compute loss */
+    *lossp = loss = 0;
+
+    if (dst_pix_fmt == src_pix_fmt)
+        return INT_MAX;
+
+    if ((ret = get_pix_fmt_depth(&src_min_depth, &src_max_depth, src_pix_fmt)) < 0)
+        return ret;
+    if ((ret = get_pix_fmt_depth(&dst_min_depth, &dst_max_depth, dst_pix_fmt)) < 0)
+        return ret;
+
+    src_color = get_color_type(src_desc);
+    dst_color = get_color_type(dst_desc);
+    if (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8)
+        nb_components = FFMIN(src_desc->nb_components, 4);
+    else
+        nb_components = FFMIN(src_desc->nb_components, dst_desc->nb_components);
+
+    for (i = 0; i < nb_components; i++) {
+        int depth_minus1 = (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8) ? 7/nb_components : dst_desc->comp[i].depth_minus1;
+        if (src_desc->comp[i].depth_minus1 > depth_minus1 && (consider & FF_LOSS_DEPTH)) {
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_DEPTH;
+            score -= 65536 >> depth_minus1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (consider & FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION) {
+        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_w > src_desc->log2_chroma_w) {
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION;
+            score -= 256 << dst_desc->log2_chroma_w;
+        }
+        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_h > src_desc->log2_chroma_h) {
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION;
+            score -= 256 << dst_desc->log2_chroma_h;
+        }
+        // don't favor 422 over 420 if downsampling is needed, because 420 has much better support on the decoder side
+        if (dst_desc->log2_chroma_w == 1 && src_desc->log2_chroma_w == 0 &&
+            dst_desc->log2_chroma_h == 1 && src_desc->log2_chroma_h == 0 ) {
+            score += 512;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(consider & FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE)
+    switch(dst_color) {
+    case FF_COLOR_RGB:
+        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_RGB &&
+            src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
+        break;
+    case FF_COLOR_GRAY:
+        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
+        break;
+    case FF_COLOR_YUV:
+        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV)
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
+        break;
+    case FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG:
+        if (src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV_JPEG &&
+            src_color != FF_COLOR_YUV &&
+            src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY)
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
+        break;
+    default:
+        /* fail safe test */
+        if (src_color != dst_color)
+            loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE;
+        break;
+    }
+    if(loss & FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE)
+        score -= (nb_components * 65536) >> FFMIN(dst_desc->comp[0].depth_minus1, src_desc->comp[0].depth_minus1);
+
+    if (dst_color == FF_COLOR_GRAY &&
+        src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY && (consider & FF_LOSS_CHROMA)) {
+        loss |= FF_LOSS_CHROMA;
+        score -= 2 * 65536;
+    }
+    if (!pixdesc_has_alpha(dst_desc) && (pixdesc_has_alpha(src_desc) && (consider & FF_LOSS_ALPHA))) {
+        loss |= FF_LOSS_ALPHA;
+        score -= 65536;
+    }
+    if (dst_pix_fmt == AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8 && (consider & FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT) &&
+        (src_pix_fmt != AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8 && (src_color != FF_COLOR_GRAY || (pixdesc_has_alpha(src_desc) && (consider & FF_LOSS_ALPHA))))) {
+        loss |= FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT;
+        score -= 65536;
+    }
+
+    *lossp = loss;
+    return score;
+}
+
+int av_get_pix_fmt_loss(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt,
+                            enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
+                            int has_alpha)
+{
+    int loss;
+    int ret = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt, src_pix_fmt, &loss, has_alpha ? ~0 : ~FF_LOSS_ALPHA);
+    if (ret < 0)
+        return ret;
+    return loss;
+}
+
+enum AVPixelFormat av_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt1, enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt2,
+                                             enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt, int has_alpha, int *loss_ptr)
+{
+    enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt;
+    int loss1, loss2, loss_mask;
+    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc1 = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt1);
+    const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc2 = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(dst_pix_fmt2);
+    int score1, score2;
+
+    loss_mask= loss_ptr?~*loss_ptr:~0; /* use loss mask if provided */
+    if(!has_alpha)
+        loss_mask &= ~FF_LOSS_ALPHA;
+
+    dst_pix_fmt = AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
+    score1 = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt1, src_pix_fmt, &loss1, loss_mask);
+    score2 = get_pix_fmt_score(dst_pix_fmt2, src_pix_fmt, &loss2, loss_mask);
+
+    if (score1 == score2) {
+        if(av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc2) != av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc1)) {
+            dst_pix_fmt = av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc2) < av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc1) ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
+        } else {
+            dst_pix_fmt = desc2->nb_components < desc1->nb_components ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
+        }
+    } else {
+        dst_pix_fmt = score1 < score2 ? dst_pix_fmt2 : dst_pix_fmt1;
+    }
+
+    if (loss_ptr)
+        *loss_ptr = av_get_pix_fmt_loss(dst_pix_fmt, src_pix_fmt, has_alpha);
+    return dst_pix_fmt;
+}
+
+#ifdef TEST
+
+int main(void){
+    int i;
+    int err=0;
+    int skip = 0;
+
+    for (i=0; i<AV_PIX_FMT_NB*2; i++) {
+        const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc = av_pix_fmt_desc_get(i);
+        if(!desc || !desc->name) {
+            skip ++;
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (skip) {
+            av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "%3d unused pixel format values\n", skip);
+            skip = 0;
+        }
+        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "pix fmt %s avg_bpp:%d colortype:%d\n", desc->name, av_get_padded_bits_per_pixel(desc), get_color_type(desc));
+        if ((!(desc->flags & AV_PIX_FMT_FLAG_ALPHA)) != (desc->nb_components != 2 && desc->nb_components != 4)) {
+            av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Alpha flag mismatch\n");
+            err = 1;
+        }
+    }
+    return err;
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/libavutil/pixdesc.h b/libavutil/pixdesc.h
index e88bf9b92a..1d2ead6cb9 100644
--- a/libavutil/pixdesc.h
+++ b/libavutil/pixdesc.h
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ enum AVPixelFormat av_pix_fmt_desc_get_id(const AVPixFmtDescriptor *desc);
  * Utility function to access log2_chroma_w log2_chroma_h from
  * the pixel format AVPixFmtDescriptor.
  *
- * See avcodec_get_chroma_sub_sample() for a function that asserts a
+ * See av_get_chroma_sub_sample() for a function that asserts a
  * valid pixel format instead of returning an error code.
  * Its recommanded that you use avcodec_get_chroma_sub_sample unless
  * you do check the return code!
@@ -287,5 +287,53 @@ void ff_check_pixfmt_descriptors(void);
  */
 enum AVPixelFormat av_pix_fmt_swap_endianness(enum AVPixelFormat pix_fmt);
 
+#define FF_LOSS_RESOLUTION  0x0001 /**< loss due to resolution change */
+#define FF_LOSS_DEPTH       0x0002 /**< loss due to color depth change */
+#define FF_LOSS_COLORSPACE  0x0004 /**< loss due to color space conversion */
+#define FF_LOSS_ALPHA       0x0008 /**< loss of alpha bits */
+#define FF_LOSS_COLORQUANT  0x0010 /**< loss due to color quantization */
+#define FF_LOSS_CHROMA      0x0020 /**< loss of chroma (e.g. RGB to gray conversion) */
 
+/**
+ * Compute what kind of losses will occur when converting from one specific
+ * pixel format to another.
+ * When converting from one pixel format to another, information loss may occur.
+ * For example, when converting from RGB24 to GRAY, the color information will
+ * be lost. Similarly, other losses occur when converting from some formats to
+ * other formats. These losses can involve loss of chroma, but also loss of
+ * resolution, loss of color depth, loss due to the color space conversion, loss
+ * of the alpha bits or loss due to color quantization.
+ * av_get_fix_fmt_loss() informs you about the various types of losses
+ * which will occur when converting from one pixel format to another.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dst_pix_fmt destination pixel format
+ * @param[in] src_pix_fmt source pixel format
+ * @param[in] has_alpha Whether the source pixel format alpha channel is used.
+ * @return Combination of flags informing you what kind of losses will occur
+ * (maximum loss for an invalid dst_pix_fmt).
+ */
+int av_get_pix_fmt_loss(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt,
+                        enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt,
+                        int has_alpha);
+
+/**
+ * Compute what kind of losses will occur when converting from one specific
+ * pixel format to another.
+ * When converting from one pixel format to another, information loss may occur.
+ * For example, when converting from RGB24 to GRAY, the color information will
+ * be lost. Similarly, other losses occur when converting from some formats to
+ * other formats. These losses can involve loss of chroma, but also loss of
+ * resolution, loss of color depth, loss due to the color space conversion, loss
+ * of the alpha bits or loss due to color quantization.
+ * av_get_fix_fmt_loss() informs you about the various types of losses
+ * which will occur when converting from one pixel format to another.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dst_pix_fmt destination pixel format
+ * @param[in] src_pix_fmt source pixel format
+ * @param[in] has_alpha Whether the source pixel format alpha channel is used.
+ * @return Combination of flags informing you what kind of losses will occur
+ * (maximum loss for an invalid dst_pix_fmt).
+ */
+enum AVPixelFormat av_find_best_pix_fmt_of_2(enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt1, enum AVPixelFormat dst_pix_fmt2,
+                                             enum AVPixelFormat src_pix_fmt, int has_alpha, int *loss_ptr);
 #endif /* AVUTIL_PIXDESC_H */