High gloss metal effect papers

A method for forming a smooth decorative surface coating exhibiting gloss on a paper or board substrate, the method comprising:

• A) applying a curable composition comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated compounds and one or more photoinitiators to at least a portion of the frontside of the paper substrate by a process selected form the group consisting of gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, coating with a slot coater, coating with a knife coater, coating with a wire bar and coating with a doctor blade;
• B) curing the composition by using a UV lamp;
• and
• C) printing an aluminium layer on the cured composition wherein the aluminium layer comprises a binder and vapour deposited aluminium particles with an mean diameter of from 8.0 μm to 12 μm and the thickness is from 11 to 18 nm, wherein said printing is a process selected from the group consisting of gravure printing, rotogravure printing, flexographic printing, lithographic printing, offset printing, letterpress intaglio printing, and screen printing, wherein the gloss, as measured under a 20° geometry has a value higher than 500 relative gloss units and the roughness of the coated paper (Sz value) equal or below 300 nm.