If a rough surface is put in contact with a wetting liquid, the roughness m
ay be spontaneously invaded depending on the surface pattern and the wettin
g properties of the liquid. Here, we study the conditions for observing suc
h an imbibition and present practical achievements where the wetting proper
ties of the surface can be predicted and tuned by the design of a solid tex
ture. The contact angle of a drop on such a surface ( where solid and liqui
d coexist) is discussed. Finally, the dynamics of the liquid lm is found to
obey a diffusive-type law, as in the case of porous wicking.