Method for Controlling a Printing Operation

A control system for a printing press, comprising:

• a computing unit;
• and
• a register mark sensor configured to communicate directly with the computing unit in order to transmit a first signal and a second signal,
• wherein the register mark sensor includes a detector configured to detect at least one position and/or an extent of a register mark located on a printing material and to output the first signal for register control,
• wherein the detector is further configured to acquire at least one item of color information and to output the second signal for color monitoring and/or in-line color control, and
• wherein the computing unit is configured to (i) use the detected at least one position and/or the extent of the register mark for register control, (ii) carry out color monitoring with at least the at least one item of color information, (iii) determine a color deviation with respect to a reference value, (iv) define a threshold value for the color deviation, and (v) output a warning and/or automatically make a change from good to poor products when the threshold value for the color deviation is exceeded.