A process for the production of singly and/or multiply coated paper and/or board, except for photographic papers and self-adhesive labeling papers, which are particularly suitable for printing, packaging and inscription, is described. The substrate, for example base paper or board, is coated once or several times with a free-falling liquid curtain, the coating liquid having in particular an extensional viscosity of from 1 to 1000 Pas at a Hencky strain of from 1 to 15.