An apparatus and a method filters reconstructed images, in particular, video images, with adaptive multiplicative filters. The apparatus and method groups the multiplier coefficients of the filter into at least two groups; determines the value of each multiplier coefficient in a first group so as to be allowed to assume any value in a first set of allowed values of multiplier coefficients, determines the value of each multiplier coefficient in a second group so as to be allowed to assume any value in a second set of allowed values of multiplier coefficients, and filters the set of samples of an image with the filter. At least one of the first and second sets has at least one value that is not in the other set.