HUDSON, N.H., Feb. 20 -- Presstek, a leading provider of direct digital imaging technology, today announced that it has begun the beta testing program of Applause, its new process-free thermal printing plate. This is expected to be the final step before commercial launch. Applause is a wet offset printing plate, which is easily adaptable to many Computer To Plate (CTP) printing applications. Applause is unique in that it is a truly no-process plate. Unlike conventional digital plate products, Applause requires absolutely no intermediate steps between imaging and printing, users simply image the plate, hang it on press, and print. Other key benefits of Applause include run lengths up to 100,000 impressions, excellent ink/water latitude, high resolution, and compatibility with existing press chemistries. No other plate on the market today has similar characteristics. Applause was previewed as a technology exhibit in April 2002 at the IPEX trade show in Birmingham, England, and again in October at Graph Expo in Chicago. At Graph Expo Applause was awarded a "Must See 'Em" award for being an innovation most likely to impact the printing industry. In October 2002 the writers and editors of Electronic Publishing Magazine selected Applause as a "Hot Product" distinguishing it as a significant product in the printing industry. Presstek's General Manager, Off-Press, David Ventola said, "Applause is the fourth generation of process-free plates from Presstek. We believe this is a revolutionary product that will set the standard for digitally imaged CTP plates in the future. The beta program will be conducted in the first half of 2003, and we anticipate a commercial launch of Applause for the CTP market approximately mid-year." Ventola added, "Beyond aluminum sheeted plates, Applause technology can easily be adapted to polyester sheets and spool formats creating future opportunities in many other DI and CTP applications." Ventola continued, “Applause is imaged in one step and is immediately ready to be mounted on the press with no intermediate steps. The benefits to the user include: quicker turn-around time for a job, lower cost of operation, better consistency and with fewer errors, and environmentally friendly operation. We believe Applause is the ultimate in off-press digital imaging."