A method and apparatus of printing wherein, prior to printing, an ultra-violet (U.V.) varnish is applied to the whole of, or to one or more selected parts of, the paper to be printed and is hardened by passage past one or more U.V. lamps (19), printing then being carried out using one or more U.V. inks which are dried by passage past one or more further U.V. lamps (20), or using other ink or inks which can be acceptably dried.