A method and apparatus for efficiently performing digital signal processing is provided. In one embodiment, kernel matrix computations are simplified by grouping similar kernel coefficients together. Each coefficient group contains only coefficients having the same value. At least one of the coefficient groups has at least two coefficients. Techniques are disclosed herein to efficiently apply successive first order difference operations to a data signal. The techniques allow for a low gate count. In particular, the techniques allow for a reduction of the number of multipliers without increasing clock frequency, in an embodiment. The techniques update pixels of a data signal at a rate of two clock cycles per each pixel, in an embodiment. The techniques allow hardware that is used to process a first pixel to be re-used to start the processing of a second pixel while the first pixel is still being processed.