An automated printing press (10) is provided with a plurality of printing stations (13), each having a printing mechanism (60) which prints at least one component image at spaced apart locations along a web (11). Each printing mechanism (60) is positionable to one side of the press for servicing. The print roller (61) is driven through a swingable gear assembly (268) that maintains gear spacing as the print roller to impression roller spacing varies and that engages and disengages tangentially to improve meshing. Microprocessor based computer controllers (400, 405) at each station (13) precisely and repeatably control positions of the printing mechanism (60) and precisely register the component images being printed at the stations (13). Each station controller (407) precisely maintains registration of the printing rollers (61) among the stations (13) and with respect to a preprinted component part of a composite image on a web (11) that may have been removed from and reinserted into the press (10) and deformed such that repeat lengths along the length of the web (11) may have changed. Measurements are made by sensors (350) of a series of repeat lengths on the web (11), a regression analysis is performed and a prediction is made of a constant or recurring component to be corrected in the next image to be encountered at each respective station (13). The circumferential speed of each print roller (61) is separately controlled in accordance with a respective error prediction to control the length of the image printed at the station to that already on the web (11). The speed is controlled by difference pulses sent to a stepper motor (327) of a harmonic drive (275) at each station (13). Correction pulses are spaced evenly over the print length of the image.