A dressing is pressed onto a surface of a cylinder of a printing machine by the use of at least two pressing elements. These two pressing elements are separated from each other in a circumferential direction of the cylinder. A portion of each of the two pressing elements can be moved toward or away form the surface of the cylinder independently of each other. The pressing elements are preferably arranged on supports that are connected to each other. Each of the pressing elements is provided with its own independent actuator.