A visual control device in the form of at least one control marking is provided on an exposed printing plate for a printing press, the visual control device being applied during exposure of the printing plate. The control marking includes at least two strips extending at least approximately in parallel, one of the strips depicting an uncalibrated tonal value profile around a defined halftone value, while another of the strips depicts the defined halftone value calibrated in the printing process. The control marking is provided with at least one region wherein the uncalibrated tonal value profile and the calibrated defined halftone value coincide visually in terms of color; and a printing plate provided with at least one of the control devices.