An inker of an offset printing press is preset in accordance with the image coverage distribution for an image to be printed. The image coverage distribution is obtained from a plate scanner or from a digital image setter file that is available during makeready. Whether in simulation or in actual print, the printed ink film commands are first set. Then inking operation is simulated and a simulated ink coverage distribution is obtained by driving a steady state error between the printed ink film commands and the ink coverage to zero. The presets are calculated in a proportional-integral controller with feedback from a simulated printing plant. The resulting ink key presets are then used to preset the ink keys of the inker at the start of the actual print job.