A process for the production of a coating layer from a thermally curable coating composition on a substrate, comprising the successive steps: a) providing a substrate to be coated, b) applying a backing foil coated on one side with an uncured or at least only partially cured coating layer of a thermally curable coating composition, with its coated side on the entire surface or at least one sub-zone of the surface of the substrate, c) supplying thermal energy onto the entire coating applied in step b), and d) removing the backing foil from the coating which remains on the substrate; wherein the supply of thermal energy onto the coating proceeds prior to and/or after removal of the backing foil.