Methods and compositions for forming a coating layer on a substrate that include a) applying an aqueous coating composition to at least a portion of the substrate using a high transfer efficiency applicator that expels the coating composition; and b) curing the coating composition to form a cured coating layer. The aqueous coating composition includes an aqueous carrier, a film-forming resin having at least one crosslinking-functional group, and a co-reactive material having at least one functional group reactive with the crosslinking-functional group. The cured coating layer of the aqueous coating composition achieves 100 MEK double rubs as measured in accordance with ASTM D5402-19 (2019) after baking at 80°C for 30 minutes at coating thickness of 35 µm.