plasq's Comic Life 3, an update of its photo comic creation software for Mac OS X, makes a good product even better. It introduces a new collection of parametric image filters that boosts image processing -- and more.

The added image editing features in Comic Life 3 make it easy to transform a photograph into comic artwork. Also, new graphic design options have been provided to further enhance the appearance of your comic pages.

Comic Life 3 introduces a script editor that lets you create stories right in the app. It's easy to take your words to the comic page thanks to new SmartScript technology. New graphics options for strokes, fills and opacity make it easy to create impressive designs. Comic Life 3 also features a re-engineered editing engine that allows two-up display of your comic, element grouping, find and replace and master page.

The aforementioned collection of parametric filters range from simple line drawing to full on movie-style rotoscoping. They allow a range of effects. You can now knock out image backgrounds with the integrated Instant Alpha tool, making it simple to build a scene with layered photos. The new blur control lets you easily add depth in your multi-photo scenes. And Mac users now have access to their Aperture libraries.

New graphic design options have been provided to further enhance the appearance of your comic pages. Element strokes now include various dash and brush options for a hand-drawn look. Balloon control is improved with a variety picker presenting many variations on most balloon types, fully positionable inter-connecting tails, and adjustable balloon tail widths.

New fill options include halftones, speed lines and textures. Fill now has an independent opacity control for professional style balloon and caption designs. And elements themselves now also have fully adjustable global opacity. Rough up your pages with new page texturing effects. Lettering is bolstered with a new 3D effect to make your titles really stand out and enhanced bezier curve control for precision warping.

Comic Life 3 requires OS X 10.6 or better. It's available on the Mac App Store and plasq's website (http://plasq.com) for US$29.99.