An imaging method for a printing form (32) is described, with one or more laser diode bars (10) with n individually controllable laser diodes (12) each of which are assigned to one imaging channel, in which the laser diodes (12) of a laser diode bar (10) are divided into a main field (14) of m and into an auxiliary field (16) of (n-m) laser diodes (12) in such a way that an imaging channel (44) in the auxiliary field (16) with a matching feed that can be activated is assigned to each imaging channel (44) in the main field (14) that cannot be activated. In order to create a row (40) of m printing dots (38) on a setting line (36) at even distances a by means of the imaging channels (44), printing dots (38) are set by the main field (14) at a first time, and by the auxiliary field (16) at least at a second time. The imaging channels (44) are shifted relative to the printing form (32) parallel to the setting line (36) between the imaging times. Also, a method for the determination of the largest possible main field (14) with imaging channels (44) that under the circumstances cannot be activated is provided.