In a method for the manufacture of a microarray, surface areas of a chip are brought into contact with different aqueous solutions that contain at least one coating substance. For each of the individual surface areas, an absorbent substrate is provided and is filled with the solution that is to be brought into contact with the surface area in question. Then, for the printing of the surface area with the at least one coating substance contained in the solution, each substrate is brought into contact with the surface area in question.