A method for producing a structured hard chromium layer, during which chromium from an electrolyte is deposited onto a workpiece, which contains: a) a Cr(VI) compound in a quantity corresponding to between 50 and 300 g/l of chromic anhydride; b) 0.5 g/l to 10 g/l sulfuric acid, and; c) 5 g/l to 15 g/l aliphatic sulfonic acid having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The electrolyte comprises substantially no compounds from the group consisting of ammonium molybdate, alkaline molybdate, alkaline earth molybdate, ammonium vanadate, alkaline vanadate and alkaline earth vanadate, ammonium zirconate, alkaline zirconate and alkaline earth zirconate, and is processed with a cathodic efficiency of 12% or less. A method for producing a coating, to a structured hard chromium layer, a coating and an electrolyte.