A method and a device for printing board-shaped work pieces in a printing gap are provided. The printing gap is formed by two printing rollers that are adjustably spaced apart from each other, with the board-shaped work piece being transported on a transporting device to the printing gap and being printed when passing through the printing gap. Prior to or during the transport to the printing gap, a thickness of each work piece is measured and the printing gap is adjusted prior to the printing process via a parallel or offset change of the distance between the two printing rollers in reference to each other, according to the measured thickness of the work piece.