Abstract: A method for calibrating a digitally controllable printing machine having a permanent printing plate, for which image data has been created in machine-independent format in a pre-press stage. The image data is prepared for the printing process by a data processing device and is fed in adapted form to the printing machine 1. The data processing device uses a profile which corresponds precisely with the current machine condition, for the final data preparation for printing. The profile can be addressed using the correct color-space conversion for the printing machine (i.e., calibrated). For this purpose, at the time at which the data is prepared for image setting, a machine condition forecast for the time of printing is called up and, from this, together with the knowledge of the operating materials, the machine profile which most closely approaches that for the print job is determined. This profile is then used for the data preparation.