This process forms a thin metallic coating on the substrate. The electroplating process passes a positively-charged electrical current through a solution containing dissolved metal ions and a negatively charged electrical current through the metallic part to be plated. Common metals utilized for electroplating are cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, silver, tin, and zinc. Almost any base metal that conducts electricity can be electroplated to enhance its performance.

The electrophoresis process has a number of alternate names: electrocoating, e-coating and electrophoretic coating. Parts are immersed in a paint solution contained in an electrified tank. The paint in the solution exists as ions with a positive or negative charge. When the parts are immersed in the tank, the paint migrates to the surface of the part. The paint ions gain or lose electrons at the surface of the part and are changed to solid paint that attaches to the surface. Every part of the surface is evenly coated with the paint. The high points on the part are coated first, but as they are coated they are insulated and no longer conductive. The current is then diverted to the low spots on the surface. In many ways this process is similar to electroplating.

Powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat or with ultraviolet light. The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals, such as household appliances, aluminium extrusions, drum hardware, automobiles, and bicycle frames.

Applicable on steels, black oxide is a conversion coating used to improve corrosion resistance and minimize light reflection.

Brushing is produced by polishing the metal with grit resulting in a unidirectional satin finish. Not advisable for applications where corrosion resistance is required.

Parts are manually polished in multiple directions. Surface is smooth and slightly reflective.

Also named air-abrasion, it is one of the most common methods used for surface preparation. This technique has the advantage to create homogenous and anisotropic surfaces even on hard materials like ceramics or glasses. Indeed, it creates scratch-like irregularities using a high-speed stream of solid particles propelled by compressed air to remove unfavorable contaminants, increase surface energy, bonding surface area, and surface roughness.

Aluminum parts are surface treated by anodizing to give them a different color (usually black, red, blue, etc). The process uses the metal part as an anode; using electrolytic process, a layer of hard metal oxide is formed at the anode (i.e. on the surface of the part). Common examples include aluminum parts, such as picture frames, car-body parts, door-knobs and other building fixtures, bathroom fixtures and racks, sporting goods, e.g. baseball bats, and so on.