[en] We describe a method of assessing and optimizing the de-wetting properties of a lyophobic substrate by using a sliding liquid drop to determine the maximum speed of de-wetting of an aqueous liquid on a range of lyophobic surfaces. The sliding drop method has direct relevance to the use of surface energy patterns on flexible substrates, to create discrete liquid patterns in a continuous, roll-to-roll manner. Surface energy patterning makes use of a substrate pre-patterned with lyophilic and lyophobic regions which is over-coated with a liquid; the liquid withdraws from the lyophobic areas and collects on the lyophilic ones. The overall speed of the patterning process is determined by the rate with which liquid de-wets from the lyophobic regions and is therefore a strong function of the static advancing contact angle. However, measurement of the static contact angle alone is not enough to fully characterize the de-wetting behaviour on a range of different lyophobic materials. In contrast, the sliding drop method depends upon the dynamic contact angle of a liquid as it de-wets, and so allows for a direct measurement of the maximum speed of de-wetting of a given liquid on a particular surface. Use of the technique to screen a range of lyophobic materials applied by different methods to determine their suitability for surface energy patterning is shown