A method of decoding video data represented in a multi-view plus depth format according to the 3D-HEVC standard the method comprising: decoding a syntax element that indicates whether a plurality of different depth intra coding modes are enabled for the video data; wherein the syntax element is included in one of a video parameter set, a sequence parameter set or a picture parameter set of the video data, and when the syntax element indicates that a plurality of different depth intra coding modes are enabled, decoding a depth modeling table syntax structure depth_mode_parameters that includes syntax elements for the depth intra coding modes, wherein the depth modeling table syntax structure is encoded at one of a coding unit level or a prediction unit level of the video data; decoding from the depth modeling table syntax structure, one or more syntax elements that indicate a depth intra coding mode selected out of a plurality of depth intra coding modes, and a set of syntax elements that indicate residual information of depth data, wherein the set of syntax elements that indicate residual information include a syntax element that indicates whether a residual value of the depth data is present and, if present, an absolute value depth_dc_abs and a sign depth_dc_sign flag of the residual value of the depth data, wherein the same syntax elements, depth_dc_abs for the absolute value and depth_dc_sign flag for the sign value, are used to indicate the residual information for any of the plurality of depth intra coding modes, and wherein the plurality of depth intra coding modes include at least two of a depth modeling mode, DMM, a simplified depth coding, SDC, mode, or a chain coding mode, CCM, and wherein the depth intra coding modes include at least one sub-mode of the DMM and at least three sub-modes of the SDC mode. decoding a syntax element that indicates whether a plurality of different depth intra coding modes are enabled for the video data; wherein the syntax element is included in one of a video parameter set, a sequence parameter set or a picture parameter set of the video data, and when the syntax element indicates that a plurality of different depth intra coding modes are enabled, decoding a depth modeling table syntax structure depth_mode_parameters that includes syntax elements for the depth intra coding modes, wherein the depth modeling table syntax structure is encoded at one of a coding unit level or a prediction unit level of the video data; decoding from the depth modeling table syntax structure, one or more syntax elements that indicate a depth intra coding mode selected out of a plurality of depth intra coding modes, and a set of syntax elements that indicate residual information of depth data, wherein the set of syntax elements that indicate residual information include a syntax element that indicates whether a residual value of the depth data is present and, if present, an absolute value depth_dc_abs and a sign depth_dc_sign flag of the residual value of the depth data, wherein the same syntax elements, depth_dc_abs for the absolute value and depth_dc_sign flag for the sign value, are used to indicate the residual information for any of the plurality of depth intra coding modes, and wherein the plurality of depth intra coding modes include at least two of a depth modeling mode, DMM, a simplified depth coding, SDC, mode, or a chain coding mode, CCM, and wherein the depth intra coding modes include at least one sub-mode of the DMM and at least three sub-modes of the SDC mode.