Printing formes are prepared in assembly positions on one of several printing cylinders in a printing press. Several such printing formes are made available at a distance from the printing press, at the end of at least one sheet extruder with a sheet exposure device. A particular printing forme for the printing cylinder is distributed among mobile collector containers that are standing ready on the sheet extruder. Different mobile collection containers, with printing formes for the same printing cylinders are supplied to that printing cylinder. At a particular time, and on an operating side of the printing press, several such mobile collection containers are provided and are positioned adjacent each other in the axial direction of the print cylinder. Print formes for the assembly positions, which are arranged adjacent to each other on the print cylinder, in the axial direction of the print cylinder, and which have been provided to the printing press in the various mobile collection contains, are taken from the mobile collection containers and are provided on the assembly positions of the printing cylinder.