A decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream, comprising: a decoder configured to decode the bit stream to generate a decoded image; and an offset processing module configured to: acquire, from the bit stream, position data indicating a position of four consecutive bands to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, wherein the four consecutive bands are determined from thirty-two bands each representing an intensity range of pixel values belonging thereto; identify the position of a first band using the position data; and apply, for the decoded image generated by the decoder, an offset set for each band to a pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band by adding the offset set for each band to the pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band, and to apply a zero offset to the remaining bands other than the four consecutive bands, characterized in that the position data indicate the position of the first band of the four consecutive bands starting from the first band to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, and wherein the band offset mode is the only band offset mode utilised by an offset processing module. a decoder configured to decode the bit stream to generate a decoded image; and an offset processing module configured to: acquire, from the bit stream, position data indicating a position of four consecutive bands to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, wherein the four consecutive bands are determined from thirty-two bands each representing an intensity range of pixel values belonging thereto; identify the position of a first band using the position data; and apply, for the decoded image generated by the decoder, an offset set for each band to a pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band by adding the offset set for each band to the pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band, and to apply a zero offset to the remaining bands other than the four consecutive bands, characterized in that the position data indicate the position of the first band of the four consecutive bands starting from the first band to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, and wherein the band offset mode is the only band offset mode utilised by an offset processing module. acquire, from the bit stream, position data indicating a position of four consecutive bands to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, wherein the four consecutive bands are determined from thirty-two bands each representing an intensity range of pixel values belonging thereto; identify the position of a first band using the position data; and apply, for the decoded image generated by the decoder, an offset set for each band to a pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band by adding the offset set for each band to the pixel value belonging to the four consecutive bands including the first band, and to apply a zero offset to the remaining bands other than the four consecutive bands, characterized in that the position data indicate the position of the first band of the four consecutive bands starting from the first band to which offsets are applied as a band offset mode, and wherein the band offset mode is the only band offset mode utilised by an offset processing module.