A method for structuring a surface includes, by an assigned modification device, creating a latent structure of at least a first layer of the surface, which has a polymer therein, so as to form hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions for producing a printing form for offset printing, by selectively applying a gaseous, readily volatile solvent as a modifying agent to at least one locally limited region of the surface over at least one exposure time interval. A device for performing the method, a printing form exposer, a printing unit and a printing machine including the surface-structuring device according to the invention, are also provided.