A printing plate is arranged on a plate cylinder having a channel, in which front and rear clamping devices are located. The rear clamping device forms part of a slide positioned inside the channel and which can move towards the front clamping device. The slide is first moved, together with a rear end of the printing form that is fixed into the rear clamping device, towards the front clamping device. At least one rear spacer is then adjusted to a position relative to the slide that defines a specific distance of the rear clamping device from a second channel wall. A tensioning drive is subsequently deactivated and the slide, together with the rear clamping device, are held in position along the tensioning path by the force exerted by the tensioned printing form, that force pressing the slide against the second channel wall by the rear spacer of the slide.