Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of the planar deviations of flexible, web-type flat goods such as films of different materials which can also be used as packaging materials. It is the object of the invention to detect planar deviations directly on the rolling off of a flexible, web-type flat good from a roll in a contact free manner and with a low effort and/or cost. In accordance with the invention, in this connection, at least one ??? is present over at least one region of the width of the flat good on the rolling off with which the position and/or alignment of an imaged run-off edge can be determined with respect to a plane aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the roll.