COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2002--Photokina, Konica Corporation, one of the world's leading photographic companies and Applied Science Fiction(TM), Inc. (ASF(TM)), the creator of the award-winning Digital ICE and Digital ICE(3)(TM) technologies, the leader of automatic image restoration applications and the inventor of the Digital PIC(TM) cutting-edge digital dry film processing system, announced today at Photokina 2002 that they have entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate ASF's Digital ICE technology into the Konica HRS film scanner in Konica's R1 SUPER Digital Minilab System.

Digital ICE technology automatically removes surface defects, such as dust and scratches, from a scanned image. The award-winning Digital ICE differentiates itself from software-only solutions because it does not soften, blur or otherwise alter any underlying details or composition of the original image. Instead, ASF's patented Digital ICE technology works from within the scanner, during the scanning process, to provide users with a clear, authentic base image for consistently defect free prints.

"We are excited that Konica Corporation, a recognized global leader in photofinishing systems, has chosen to incorporate our Digital ICE technology in the HRS film scanner whose primary use is in the R1 SUPER digital minilabs," said Dan Sullivan, president and CEO of Applied Science Fiction. "The added value provided by our Digital ICE technology ensures that digital minilabs and other systems using the HRS scanner provide the cleanest images possible automatically. Digital ICE will contribute to further increasing the quality and productivity of Konica's minilabs such as the R1 SUPER. This integration solidifies the Digital ICE position as a de facto standard technology in the digital minilab landscape."

The Konica R1 SUPER digital minilab has drawn on Konica's tradition of making equipment that's rugged, simple to use and service. The R1 SUPER is incredibly simple in design and function yet does not sacrifice one pixel in image quality. The images produced by the Konica R1 SUPER System are sharp and yield incredible detail. The bottom line is users will experience lower running costs and have more up time to drive profits.

About Konica Corporation

Konica Corporation, based in Tokyo Japan, is a leading manufacturer of Konica brand 35mm color print film, 35mm cameras, Advanced Photo System color print film, Advanced Photo System cameras, one-time use cameras, color print paper, digital minilabs, digital cameras, digital scanners, digital imaging systems and ink jet papers. Konica also provides Internet imaging service solutions and new digital photo business solutions for the next generation. For additional product information, or to reach a Konica sales representative, visit the company's Web site at www.konica.co.jp.

About Applied Science Fiction

Applied Science Fiction develops proprietary technologies for the imaging industry that link traditional photography with the digital age. ASF licenses its branded technologies through Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that provide products for the professional and consumer imaging markets. Additionally, ASF directly distributes Adobe® Photoshop® compatible plug-ins for automatic image correction and enhancement.

ASF's product portfolio consists of the Digital ICE3 film scanner suite, Digital ICE, Digital ROC(TM) and Digital GEM(TM), the individual components of the suite, Digital ICE and Digital ROC for photo prints, Digital ROC plug-in for color restoration and Digital SHO(TM) plug-in for revealing details of dark image-areas. ASF is also the innovator in digital dry film processing, with its environmentally friendly Digital PIC technology. Digital PIC develops exposed film directly into a high-resolution RGB digital format file in minutes. Digital PIC produces a DigiPIX(TM) CD that contains the image files from which photographic quality images can be easily printed and distributed electronically. More information can be found on ASF's Web site at www.asf.com.

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