A method for determining the arrangement of laboratory articles on a working area of a laboratory workstation, wherein at least one carrier apparatus is arranged above the working area of the laboratory workstation, and wherein the method comprises the following work steps: a) determining an original arrangement of laboratory articles on the working area of the laboratory workstation by means of at least one reference digital image, wherein the reference digital images are recorded by means of at least one digital camera which is fixed to the carrier apparatus in a defined position and orientation; b) storing said at least one reference digital image in a first memory of a computer (8, 8') which is operatively connected to the digital camera; c) displaying the at least one reference digital image on an image display device which is operatively connected to the computer (8, 8'); characterized in that the following work steps are carried out subsequently: d) selecting and marking characteristic features, which are visible on the at least one reference digital image on the working area by a user, wherein the features are locations with high contrast and are selected from a group which consists of features of the working area, features of the laboratory articles (10") and additionally applied markings (10"'), and wherein at least one input device which is operatively connected to the computer (8, 8') is used by the user for marking the features; e) drawing of rectangles of adjusted size around the marked features (10', 10", 10"') and confirmation by the user by means of the input device; f) producing reference image sections according to the rectangular regions confirmed by the user in step e) around the marked features on the working area of the laboratory workstation; g) producing at least one reference image parameter file for said reference image sections produced in step f); and h) storing the reference image sections produced in step f) and the reference image parameter file(s) produced in step g) in a second memory; wherein the laboratory articles are selected from a group comprising containers in form of microplates and test tubes, carriers for accommodating such containers, pipette tips and/or pipette tip magazines. a) determining an original arrangement of laboratory articles on the working area of the laboratory workstation by means of at least one reference digital image, wherein the reference digital images are recorded by means of at least one digital camera which is fixed to the carrier apparatus in a defined position and orientation; b) storing said at least one reference digital image in a first memory of a computer (8, 8') which is operatively connected to the digital camera; c) displaying the at least one reference digital image on an image display device which is operatively connected to the computer (8, 8'); d) selecting and marking characteristic features, which are visible on the at least one reference digital image on the working area by a user, wherein the features are locations with high contrast and are selected from a group which consists of features of the working area, features of the laboratory articles (10") and additionally applied markings (10"'), and wherein at least one input device which is operatively connected to the computer (8, 8') is used by the user for marking the features; e) drawing of rectangles of adjusted size around the marked features (10', 10", 10"') and confirmation by the user by means of the input device; f) producing reference image sections according to the rectangular regions confirmed by the user in step e) around the marked features on the working area of the laboratory workstation; g) producing at least one reference image parameter file for said reference image sections produced in step f); and h) storing the reference image sections produced in step f) and the reference image parameter file(s) produced in step g) in a second memory;