A toner layer regulating system for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a toner carrier; a toner regulating member supported in cantilevered fashion against the toner carrier so as to form a toner nip therebetween comprising a flexible metallic substrate having a coating covering at least an area forming the nip; wherein the coating comprises at least a matrix of a base polymer and a plurality of fine particles having a particle size of 0.1 microns to thirty microns; wherein the coating has a thickness of approximately one hundred fifty microns or less; wherein the coating has a surface roughness in the range of 0.15 to 1.5 microns Ra and in the range of 1 to 15 microns Rz. A carrier stratum may be disposed between the coating and the substrate, and the coating may be single layer or have a plurality of layers.