Rochester , NY - APRIL 28, 2005 - PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, today announced the release of the 5th edition of its popular Best Practices in Digital Print report. The newest in this highly acclaimed series of reports features 45 new digital print case studies as well as best practice principles for creating high-value digital print solutions. The new case studies have also been added to PODi's popular on-line case study database - bringing the total to over 220 cases. The much-anticipated annual report provides print service providers, vendors, marketers, editors, analysts and others with some of the most innovative ideas and proven strategies from today's digital marketplace. The comprehensive document addresses an extremely broad range of markets, applications and objectives, with examples covering 12 different vertical market segments and 5 business applications. "Since 2000, the annual PODi Best Practices in Digital Print report has met a pressing need within the digital printing and marketing communications industries for practical information that can help drive better business results using the power of digital print," said Rab Govil, President of PODi. "Every year this report helps both marketers and service providers reach their business goals faster by leveraging the right digital print application to meet the most important business needs." This year's report features both marketing and service provider best practices gleaned from the ever growing collection of case studies. These practices help service providers focus on the right activities to make their digital print related offerings a success and they help marketers understand how to apply this exciting technology to their business problems and goals. Each case study describes the goals, solution and the results of a successful digital print project and also offers some of the details such as the hardware and software products used. Through the experience of others, printing professionals can establish their own benchmarks for success and better justify digital print initiatives. PODi also offers a valuable historical perspective describing trends within specific market and application categories to help readers stay abreast of the most significant developments. Readers can gain an even more thorough understanding of successful techniques and processes through six in-depth case studies, including Kennesaw State University 's student recruitment brochure, and the Borgata Hotel and Shoe Carnival's use of personalized mailings to drive return business. Other in-depth case studies describe how Bridgestone Tires uses digital print to equip its dealers to sell more, and how digitally printed tickets with reduced counterfeits at the 2004 European Football Championship. In another study, the Washington State Department of Printing cuts costs and adds revenue. The variety and depth of these cases will help document professionals from many markets gain specific ideas for their own strategies. The Best Practices Report showcases not only innovative applications, but also some of the industry's most progressive technology. This year“s edition includes five applications produced using PPML, the XML-based print language developed by PODi. PPML is an open, royalty-free print language for all types of digital printing, and is supported by all major digital equipment manufacturers as well as most software products that produce files for digital printing. Digital printing and especially variable data printing (VDP) are helping service providers and their customers build stronger relationships and capture new business, but companies are constantly looking for ways to learn more about these powerful techniques. The Best Practices Report is an invaluable repository for practical ideas that can help drive bottom line results. "Short of our recent investment in digital color printing equipment, our membership in PODi has been the best investment we have made in the past six months," declared Gary W. Dragoon, Director of Digital Print Services for the W.A. Wilde Company of Holliston , MA (www.wilde.com). "The ability to have a resource for information on the ever-changing trends and technologies in the VDP industry has been tremendous advantage to W.A. Wilde. VDP is the future, and PODi is the gateway." The full report is free to PODi members and may be purchased by non-members at www.podi.org.  The individual case studies are also available in PODi's online case study database. Users can search the database using several criteria, including vertical market, business application, B&W v. color, to name just a few. Individual case studies may be downloaded for free by PODi members and purchased for a nominal fee by non-members.