The　3D　extension　of　high　efficiency　video　coding　(3D-HEVC)　adopts　a　view　synthesis　optimization　(VSO)　technique　to　improve　the　quality　of　synthesized　views　for　depth　map　coding.　The　exact　synthesized　view　distortion　change　(SVDC)　is　calculated　in　VSO　which　in　turn　brings　huge　coding　complexity　to　the　3D-HEVC　encoder　due　to　the　real　view　synthesis　process.　This　work　presents　a　scheme　aimed　at　reducing　coding　complexity　of　the　SVDC　calculating　process　in　the　3D-HEVC　encoder.　It　skips　line　segments　of　pixels　with　variable　lengths　based　on　information　from　both　of　the　textures　and　depth　maps　in　the　SVDC　calculation.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　scheme　can　reduce　the　coding　complexity　without　any　significant　loss　in　rate　distortion　performance　for　the　synthesized　views.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.