Abstract: The disclosure concerns a process for producing a sol-gel coating on a surface of a component made of aluminum or of an aluminum alloy that is to be coated, comprising the following steps: anodization of the surface through the application of an electrical voltage over a particular time period so as to form an anodized layer on the surface; and deposition of a sol-gel coating on the surface. In doing so, the voltage applied for purposes of anodizing is, by way of a particular potential gradient, continuously increased in the direction of a holding voltage that is maintained throughout the rest of the anodization time, in particular up to the holding voltage. The disclosure furthermore concerns a component made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.