Abstract: A method for supplying printing ink to an ink tray of a printing press having a plurality of ink zones throughout the width of the printing to be done, an ink tray and an ink ball extending over the width and having a longitudinal axis along the printing to be done and being substantially coextensive with the ink tray, an ink supplying means at an ink supplying location, and an ink spatula for distribution of ink within the ink tray, the method comprising determining the ink requirement data for the various ink zones, inputting the ink requirement data into a computer for producing a plurality of control signals for regulating the supplied ink in supply cycles to the ink zones, supplying ink to each ink zone at the location of each ink zone, shifting the supplied ink by the ink spatula to a zone in need of ink, with priority being given during the supply cycle to the ink requiring ink zone that is most remote from the ink supplying location, the amount of ink being supplied during the supply cycle being suffi