Plate is a flat, usually round object used for serving food. Decorating a plate can involve adding color or designs to it, such as with gilding, which is the process of covering a surface with a thin layer of gold. SILVER plating is another way to DECORATE a plate, which involves coating it with a thin layer of SILVER. Electropolating is a more advanced form of plating, which involves using an electric current to COAT the plate with a metal such as nickel or chromium. LAMINA is a thin sheet of metal used to cover a plate, while trenching is a decorative technique that involves cutting grooves into the plate. Scaling is a process of removing rust from a plate, while licensing is a process of engraving a design onto a plate. Coating a plate with a protective layer is another way to DECORATE it, and this can be done with a DISC, TIN, or DISH.