A computer system comprising a buffer and a video encoder configured to perform video encoding operations comprising: encoding one or more pictures of a video sequence to produce encoded data, including: determining a global reference picture that is part of a global reference picture set, wherein a decoded picture buffer, DPB, of the encoder includes the global reference picture set and a regular reference picture; encoding the global reference picture to produce encoded data for the global reference picture; encoding other pictures to produce encoded data for the other pictures, the other pictures including at least one picture designated to be a random access picture, wherein the global reference picture is available across one or more random access boundaries defined by the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture by retaining the global reference picture in the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered and wherein the regular reference picture is removed from the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered; and outputting the encoded data as part of a bitstream, the encoded data including the encoded data for the global reference picture and the encoded data for the other pictures; the buffer being configured to store the part of the bitstream, wherein the encoded data for the global reference picture is marked, with a network abstraction layer, NAL, unit type in the bitstream, as being part of the global reference picture set. encoding one or more pictures of a video sequence to produce encoded data, including: determining a global reference picture that is part of a global reference picture set, wherein a decoded picture buffer, DPB, of the encoder includes the global reference picture set and a regular reference picture; encoding the global reference picture to produce encoded data for the global reference picture; encoding other pictures to produce encoded data for the other pictures, the other pictures including at least one picture designated to be a random access picture, wherein the global reference picture is available across one or more random access boundaries defined by the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture by retaining the global reference picture in the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered and wherein the regular reference picture is removed from the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered; and determining a global reference picture that is part of a global reference picture set, wherein a decoded picture buffer, DPB, of the encoder includes the global reference picture set and a regular reference picture; encoding the global reference picture to produce encoded data for the global reference picture; encoding other pictures to produce encoded data for the other pictures, the other pictures including at least one picture designated to be a random access picture, wherein the global reference picture is available across one or more random access boundaries defined by the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture by retaining the global reference picture in the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered and wherein the regular reference picture is removed from the DPB when the at least one picture designated to be a random access picture is encountered; and outputting the encoded data as part of a bitstream, the encoded data including the encoded data for the global reference picture and the encoded data for the other pictures; the buffer being configured to store the part of the bitstream, wherein the encoded data for the global reference picture is marked, with a network abstraction layer, NAL, unit type in the bitstream, as being part of the global reference picture set.