The invention relates to a method for the production of a printing form by the scanning point-by-point and line-by-line of an image pattern along successive cylindrical peripheral image lines and engraving cavities along corresponding cylindrical peripheral engraving lines by an engraving member having an engraving needle as a cutting tool, and includes the steps of generating image signals from the image pattern from along one of the cylindrical peripheral image lines, and engraving a number of cavities at the beginning of an engraving line to depths substantially less than the depths defined by the corresponding image signals.Then the other cavities of said engraving line are engraved to depths which are defined by the nominal values.Subsequently the incomplete cavities of said engraving line are re-engraved in accordance with the corresponding image signals.Another object of the invention is to control the movement of said engraving needle into an engraving position for engraving cavities and into a rest position after an engraving line has been completed.