The mechanism of pigment film formation by the aqueous coating method was studied. This method is based on the electrochemical reduction of an Al substrate in aqueous pigment-dispersed surfactant systems. The electrode reactions of the Al substrate, the effect of the salt on the stability of the dispersion, the effect of the electrolytic conditions and the surfactant type on film growth, the film and dispersion compositions, and the growth of pigment particles during deposition were investigated. It was found that the pigment films grow on the Al substrate in the following consecutive steps : (1) a hydrogen evolution reaction occurs at the Al cathode, resulting in an increased concentration of OH- ions; (2) the OH- ions cause clouding of the surfactant adsorbed on pigment particles; (3) the pigment-surfactant aggregates are made non-dispersible by the clouding effect and are deposited onto the Al substrate, leading to formation of the pigment film.