P: Please support PixelBender in CS6/CC

The image resolution has nothing to do with the problem. The filter has been fundamentally changed, and it is impossible to produce results with one version that match the other.

I just thought of something that may be why the CS6 images look "rougher". Pixel bender only allows a maximum of 1500 pixels to be manipulated where CS6 oil paint works with much higher pixels. Perhaps if I size my image to 1500 pixels and try CS6 I will get the "smoother" look. Can't try it until I get home tonight, so if anyone else can give it a try, I am dying to know if that will fix the "rough' texture of the photo in CS6.

I agree with Robert, can you show us a CS6 version of your photo?

I watched the video on the oil painting filter for CS6 on Kelby Training. It did not look much different. So I downloaded the trial version of CS6 to try the oil paint filter out. I tried to duplicate (or at least come close to) a picture that I had already done using "pixel bender". I could not come close to the "pixel bender" picture. Major difference was in the "color" which I figure I could work around using photoshop image adjustment tools. But one thing that would take a lot of adjustments would be to "smooth" out the "texture" of the CS6 picture. The texture looks does not look natural (especially in the sky). I looks like a stucco wall to me......I figure if I upgrade to CS6 I will need to keep CS5 running for the purpose of using the pixel bender filter for oil paint. (I love changing photos to oil paint when I feel the focus is a little blurred).

Can you show the same picture with the new oil paint function? it is definitely a weaker tool now...

I will try to see if Kelby Training has a tutorial on the cs6 oil paint filter. Maybe if I see how it works I can make a decision on the upgrade. I do love the pixel bender oil paint.

It doesn't match. There are a few controls that are the same across both versions, but some from the old version that are missing in the new one, and a couple, like the lighting sliders mentioned before, and a "bristle detail" function.
Missing are the "Colorization" and "BrushContrast" sliders, both of which I use every time that I use the OilPaint filter.
See my screen cap - CS 6 version on the left; Pixel Bender version on the right: http://stereographic.net/oilpaint.jpg

What functionality are you missing? It was supposed to match the older oil paint filter, but with custom UI instead of a default UI.

Sadly, the oil paint filter as implemented in CS 6 is lacking some of the functionality of the Pixel Bender version, while it adds an unnatural-looking new lighting "feature" to the mix. The older version was better, no matter what your needs are.

You can download CS6 and try out the Oil Paint filter to see if it will work for your needs.