Coatings have special qualities that involve not being see-through, looking shiny, and having color. The not being see-through part is mostly about how good a coating is at hiding or covering up what's underneath it. 

This hiding power depends on two important things: how light scatters and how light gets absorbed.

Image: Hiding power in White and Black Coating from iSuoChem

When it comes to white coating, it's good at hiding things because it scatters light well. 

But black coating hides things by soaking up light effectively.