Multilayer color and/or effect giving coating and method of forming a basecoat layer

A method of forming a basecoat layer comprising:

• a. applying a basecoat material to a polymeric film to form a basecoat film, wherein the basecoat material comprising color and/or effect pigments whose orientation within the basecoat layer influences the optical properties thereof, and control particles for controlling the orientation of the color and/or effect pigments in the basecoat layer, and
• b. drying and/or curing the basecoat film to form the basecoat layer,
• wherein
• c. the solids fraction of the basecoat material and/or the thickness of the basecoat film are/is adjusted such that the basecoat layer is obtained with a dry film thickness of 6 μm to 35 μm, and
• d. the control particles are spherical in formation and comprise
• a d10 of at least 50% of the dry film thickness of the basecoat layer,
• a d50 of 80% to 120% of the dry film thickness of the basecoat layer, and
• a d100 of not more than 200% of the dry film thickness of the basecoat layer.