A polyester-based coating composition capable of forming a striated pattern on a metal surface at a film thickness less than half of that of PVC plastisol films is provided by a thixotropic composition having a thix index of from about 1.5 to about 3 and comprising a hydroxy-functional polyester, a thixotropy-inducing rheologic agent and curing agent. The striated coating is applied to sheet metal in a coil coating operation by introducing the composition into a paint pan of a coil coater, transferring said composition from said paint pan to an applicator roll by rotating a pick-up roll in contact with the composition and with said applicator roll; continuously withdrawing a sheet of metal from a coil thereof and coating said sheet by contacting it with the applicator roll; curing the coating on said sheet by passing the sheet through an oven at an elevated temperature; and continuously rewinding said sheet into a coil.