Typically, thick coatings such as paint or plating conceal the base metal, diminishing its natural texture. The only method that can color stainless steel while retaining its metallic feel is the coloring process used in Abel Black®. This process forms an oxide film through the oxidative effects of electricity and chemicals, and produces color through light interference. Because the film is integrated with the underlying metal, it will not peel off and can even enhance the metal’s original performance, including durability and weather resistance.

While painting or plating can obscure the natural beauty of the base metal, the coloring method maintains the stainless steel’s metallic appearance, imparting a vivid yet warm tone to the material’s surface.

Chemical coloring is affected by the condition of the base metal, resulting in uneven color. Electrolytic coloring was developed to overcome this issue, minimizing color variation between material lots. In particular, chemical coloring cannot form a sufficiently thick oxide film to achieve a dense, deep black tone.