Method for controlling contact area of a paper or board substrate or a product thereof, by depositing electrostatically a trace amount of particles comprising boundary lubricants to form one or more layers on the surface of the substrate. The boundary lubricants are deposited to the target surface solubilized or dispersed in a suitable solvent or carrier. The particles comprise an agent providing one or more effects selected from: lyophilicity, lyophobicity, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, lipophobicity, oleophobicity, oleophilicity, and boundary lubrication. Also, a paper or board substrate treated according to the foregoing method. The use of electrostatic deposition of coating materials described herein gives improved control on contact and surface characteristics.