Imaging method for printing forms

A method for imaging a printing form with an imaging device having a laser diode bar, the laser diode bar having a number n of individually controllable laser diodes each assigned to one imaging channel, imaging spots of the imaging channels being positioned on the printing form in a row, and being shifted relative to the printing form at least with one shifting component parallel to a setting line, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing the number n of laser diodes into a main field with a number m of laser diodes and into an auxiliary field with a number q of laser diodes, n being greater than m and q being equal to n minus m;
• imaging the printing form with a number (m−r) of the laser diodes from the main field at a time tm, the imaging spots of the number (m−r) laser diodes being positioned on the setting line of the printing form, and r ε(1, . . . q);
• and
• imaging the printing form with a number r of the laser diodes from the auxiliary field at least at a different time ta different from the time tm, the imaging spots being positioned on the same setting line in such a way that the printing dots created by the main field at the time tm, and the printing dots created by the auxiliary field are positioned in a row of m printing dots at even distances a.