The printer driving method involves releasing the drive of the printing form cylinder from the drive wheel traction. The cylinder is driven by it's own drive in the illustrating operation at the illustrating speed. The drive of the cylinder in one operating phase position is linked into the drive wheel traction. The illustrating speed is above the maximum printing speed of the printer. The phase-identical position of the cylinder relative to the illustrating devices is identical with the printing start of the printing form mounted on the cylinder.