A printing unit consists of at least two printing groups, which are placed
vertically above each other, in a printing machine. Each of the printing
groups includes a printing cylinder, an inking unit with at least one
inking roller, a dampening unit with several dampening rollers arranged
in a line, and a transfer cylinder that cooperates with the printing
cylinder. The inking cylinder and the dampening roller, in an operational
state in which they are adjacent the printing cylinder, form an obtuse
opening angle with the printing cylinder. The rollers of the dampening
unit are arranged with at least the first and last rollers in the roller
train arranged inside an acute angle depending from the transfer
cylinder. A horizontal line extending from the transfer cylinder defines
an opening angle of less than 45.degree. with the rollers of the
dampening unit. A printing forme is fed to the printing cylinder through
an obtuse angle between the dampening roller and the inking roller.