A method of controlling a position of a plate material sheet in a platemaking machine for feeding the plate material sheet in an exposure region and forming a document image on the plate material sheet. A plate material sheet length sensor detects that the plate material sheet to be fed to the exposure region has passed by the sensor. The overall length of the plate material sheet is calculated in accordance with the number of pulses supplied to a plate material sheet drive motor while the plate material sheet length sensor generates an output. Also calculated is a first predetermined number of pulses to be supplied to the plate material sheet drive motor so as to feed the plate material sheet by a first predetermined length within the exposure region. A stop sensor detects a front edge of the plate material sheet, the stop sensor being arranged such that a center thereof is aligned with the axis of the optical system; and the first predetermined number of pulses is supplied to the plate material sheet drive motor after the stop sensor generates an output, so that a center of a first portion of the plate material sheet is aligned with the axis of the optical system.