Abstract: Particles are applied to the surfaces of materials, especially in the form of discontinuous or patterned coatings on the surfaces of sheet materials by a process comprising the steps of:a) providing a support,b) placing a bed of non-adhered particles on the support, the particles being capable of being moved by an electric field of less than 100 KV/cm,c) placing a mask with a first and second surface over the bed of non-adhered particles, the mask having holes which pass from the first to the second surface, the first surface facing the bed of non-adhered particles without the mask touching the bed of non-adhered particles, the holes in the mask having a size which would allow passage of individual particles from the bed of non-adhered particles through the holes,d) placing a receptor material capable of at least temporarily retaining an electric charge adjacent to the second surface of the mask, which second surface faces away from the bed of non-adhered particles,e) applying an electrical charge to the rece