A method for setting up a lithographic printing press is provided which reduces the make-ready time of on-press developable printing plates so that less copies are wasted. The method uses an ‘ink boost’ at the startup of the press by presetting the inking system to a configuration whereby the amount of ink supplied to the plate is different from the amount prescribed by standard printing conditions. The ink boost can be positive or negative and can be made dependent on the difference in the image coverage between plates used in successive print jobs or on different paper types used in successive print jobs.