A method for bending a workpiece along a straight bending line, by means of a first bending tool and a second bending tool of a press brake, comprising the steps: - placement of the workpiece between the two bending tools (5, 6); - displacement of the first bending tool in the direction toward the second bending tool, wherein, during the approach movement between the first bending tool and the second bending tool, by a controller, the region between the two bending tools (5, 6) is monitored for the presence of obstacles by means of a safety system, wherein the safety system has a light source disposed on a first longitudinal side of the press brake and an optical detection means disposed on a second longitudinal side of the press brake, which optical detection means corresponds with the light source, characterized in that the method moreover comprises the following steps: - pre-bending of the workpiece to a pre-bending angle, which fits between a first bending limb and a second bending limb; - removal from one another of the two bending tools (5, 6), until the workpiece is relieved of stress; - measuring of the bending angle on the stress-relieved workpiece and evaluation of the deformation behavior of the workpiece, in particular determination of the springback; - determination of the position of the bending line of the stress-relieved and pre-bent workpiece in relation to a central plane of the first and/or of the second bending tool, wherein the safety system is used for the determination of the position of the bending line, and wherein in case an predetermined maximally permissible deviation of the position of the bending line from the central plane is exceeded, by means of the controller, a control signal is generated, and on the basis of said control signal, a correction of the position of the workpiece is carried out, until the position deviation of the bending line lies within a permissible maximum deviation from the central plane; - displacement of the first bending tool in the direction toward the second bending tool and thereby re-bending of the workpiece, taking into consideration the determined deformation behavior of the workpiece, until a final bending angle is achieved. - placement of the workpiece between the two bending tools (5, 6); - displacement of the first bending tool in the direction toward the second bending tool, wherein, during the approach movement between the first bending tool and the second bending tool, by a controller, the region between the two bending tools (5, 6) is monitored for the presence of obstacles by means of a safety system, wherein the safety system has a light source disposed on a first longitudinal side of the press brake and an optical detection means disposed on a second longitudinal side of the press brake, which optical detection means corresponds with the light source, - pre-bending of the workpiece to a pre-bending angle, which fits between a first bending limb and a second bending limb; - removal from one another of the two bending tools (5, 6), until the workpiece is relieved of stress; - measuring of the bending angle on the stress-relieved workpiece and evaluation of the deformation behavior of the workpiece, in particular determination of the springback; - determination of the position of the bending line of the stress-relieved and pre-bent workpiece in relation to a central plane of the first and/or of the second bending tool, wherein the safety system is used for the determination of the position of the bending line, and wherein in case an predetermined maximally permissible deviation of the position of the bending line from the central plane is exceeded, by means of the controller, a control signal is generated, and on the basis of said control signal, a correction of the position of the workpiece is carried out, until the position deviation of the bending line lies within a permissible maximum deviation from the central plane; - displacement of the first bending tool in the direction toward the second bending tool and thereby re-bending of the workpiece, taking into consideration the determined deformation behavior of the workpiece, until a final bending angle is achieved.