A method for one of adjusting and modifying a profile in a supply of dampening medium extending in a direction of a printing width, and wherein, during operation, excess dampening medium is removed from a printing unit, from a plurality of axial sections arranged offset relative to one another in the direction of a printing width, by using a drying device having a plurality of drying elements, which are individually adjustable in terms of their action, including removing, in at least one operating situation, dampening medium from at least one axial section (aj), overlapping a length of at least 20% of the active width (bj) of the axial section (aj), which is formed as an active section (aj) of an active drying element, with an active width (bj−1;
- bj+1) of an axial section (aj−1;
- aj+1) that is embodied as an active section (aj−1;
- aj+1) of an adjacent active drying element of the drying elements, which are offset axially relative to one another in the direction of the printing width.