A method to estimate picture quality by two-dimensional perceptive power using visual modulation transfer function including its oblique function was studied. First, visual modulation transfer functions measured conventionally were reviewed and its new formulae including spatial anistropy was presented. Using these formulae, picture quality estimation method was discussed. This method was verified by picture quality with horizontal signal band limitation. As the application of this method, line-offset sub-sampling for lower level family of digital television coding below 4:2:2, progressive scanning conversion for EDTV receiver and luminance resolution expansion through field-offset sub-sampling for EDTV were discussed and good efficiencies of this method for the signal processing design was shown.