A cold film transfer method with dynamic film tensioning guides a film web intermittently through a transfer nip with dancers to use less film web. The intermittent drive and action of a transfer cylinder channel result in undesired fluctuations in film tension or web force, which directly affect dancer motors. A control system is used to avoid high loads on the motors and the web. A control circuit acts on the dancer movement, a first process variable is mapped in the control circuit and the first process variable is a function of a force acting on the dancers as a result of the transfer film or is a function of the actual current movement profile of the dancers. A measure for web tension is calculated as a function of the first process variable and/or the amplitude of the web tension is at least limited by the control system.