PURPOSE: To print the patterns of plual printing plates as a continuous unit pattern by a method in which plural plate cylinders having a continuous pattern are specifically set in parallel and then brought into contact with the surface of a printing medium.

CONSTITUTION: For example, a desired pattern is divided into three patterns, vignette pattern A, a skeleton pattern, and a duct pattern C. The vignette pattern A is further divided into A-1, A-2, and A-3, each of which is maded into plate cylinders 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 in such a way that the pattern A-1 is continuously manifested even when using only the plate cylinder 1-1 and the patterns A-1, A-2, and A-3 are continuously manifested even when arranging plurally with the plate drums 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 for printing. The patterns B and C are likewise made up. The circumferences of each plate cylinder are all the same, and the distances between the plate cylinders 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3, the plate cylinders 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3, and the plate cylinders 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 conrrespond to the circumferences of each plate drum. The plate cylinders are turned synchronously with one another in the same direction in connection with back-up rolls 6 in such a way as to make them contact with the surface of a printing medium and then separate therefrom.