A method or control strategy in a coating apparatus for use in a coating process can include controlling differential gas pressures among multiple selected localized zones in a coating chamber with respect to each other. The controlled differential gas pressure of the multiple selected localized zones is used to influence how a coating deposits on at least one component. The localized zones can be selected from a first localized zone around the component, a second localized zone adjacent the source of coating material, a third localized zone that diverges from the second localized zone toward the first localized zone, and a fourth localized zone that circumscribes at least the third localized zone.