A paper calender has a stack of rolls arranged one above the other. They form an upper stack and a lower stack with a common center roll. Additional center rolls are carried on levers that are capable of pivoting about axes fixed with respect to the frame, and are capable of being placed under load by devices applying force. These devices should be designed to be powerful enough to be capable of compensating for more than the total weight of the associated roll and the parts connected to it. As a result of the various possible settings for the line load, the finishing of the paper can be improved. A method is provided for operating a paper calender having an upper stack of rolls and a lower stack of rolls positioned below the upper stack. Each stack is individually capable of being placed under load by upper and lower force generators. The calender also includes a common center roll that is supported on a frame, and remaining center rolls carried on levers capable of pivoting about axes fixed with respect to the frame. The levers are capable of being placed under load by force applying devices to compensate for more than the total weight of the respective roll and the parts connected to it. The method includes exerting force on the upper stack independently of the force exerted on the lower stack, exerting force on each lever independently of the force exerted by the other force applying devices, and setting the load characteristic curves in the upper stack and lower stack differently.