A method for the automated generation of reference color values for color control purposes in a printing machine by using a computer includes, within a process of setting up the printing machine for a print job, initially carrying out printing operations and using a spectrophotometer to determine coloration values for every process color used in the print job. For every process color that is used in the print job, the computer automatically selects that coloration value of a process color that has the smallest deviation from a color set point that has been established at the beginning of the job and saves this coloration value as a new reference value for this process color.
