In the leather industry roll coaters have become more widely used since the late sixties, utilizing precision and gravure applicators to apply stain coats, impregnations, effect coats, and solvent nitrocellulose topcoats. Today, reverse roll coat machines can apply water-based season coats on split, full and corrected grain substrates and application of aqueous topcoat finishes is possible utilizing the precision coating technique. Roll coating can be employed to apply basecoats to splits and corrected grain, and topcoats to many leather types. The amount of material can be metered precisely by either reverse or precision roll coating equipment. By control and manipulation of high and low shear viscosities and by achieving the appropriate Rheology Index, smooth rib-free coatings can be achieved on even the smoothest substrate.