A method for exposing a printing form includes providing a plurality of exposure channels disposed in a two-dimensional array, and inputting energy, by the exposure channels of a column of the array, for an image element on the printing form. Further included are steps for activating a first row of the array of exposure channels for producing a first component of the input of energy assigned to each column of the array in one row of image elements, moving the printing form relative to the exposure channels, and activating a second row of the array of exposure channels for producing a second component of the input of energy assigned to each column of the array when a point of projection of the exposure channel of a second row of the array comes to lie on the image element of the row already exposed by the exposure channel of the first row and the same column. A device for implementing the method and a printing unit and a printing press including the device are also provided.