A method of controlling parameters of an ink layer at a selected location in a printing unit of a printing machine, the printing machine including at least one ink source for producing the ink layer on a transport device, whereon metering variables for regulating the application of ink to the transport device are zonally settable, and further including the transport device for transferring the ink layer to the selected location. The method includes, for each zone of the ink layer, using a subject to be printed for determining desired values of parameters which the ink layer is to have at the selected location, and setting the metering variables of the ink source, based upon the desired values of the parameters, so that the parameters of the ink layer as the ink layer is applied to the transport device have temporary values deviating from the desired values, the deviation being such that an exchange of ink between the zones, taking place in the transport device, leads to the ink layer reaching the desired values of the parameters as the ink layer is transferred to a printing form.