Abstract: A noise filtering engine and method that removes fixed and random pattern noise from a digital image source. The engine may be implemented, for example, as a subsystem of a hardware-based pipeline for digital image processing or in software or a combination of hardware and software. The noise reduction engine consists of one or more hardware blocks to facilitate high throughout and high-performance operations. The engine has a significant degree of flexibility and programmability allowing, for example, digital camera manufacturers to implement the noise reduction engine in medium to high-end cameras operating with various types of imagers including CCD and CMS image sensors.