The objectives of topographic analyses are to discriminate surfaces and to find correlations with processing and performance.  Area-scale analysis, which is part of US and ISO standards, and sliding band pass filters are presented.  Area-scale analysis determines the relation between the apparent, or calculated, area and the scale of calculation.  Area-scale analysis is appealing because clear physical interpretations can be associated with surface area. 

Examples will be given of correlations with friction of sheet steel and die material, adhesion of thermal spray coating and the fracture energy of chocolate.  Additionally scale-sensitive discrimination capability will be shown for polyethylene surfaces ground with different parameters in order to reduce ski-snow friction.

There can be particular scales where correlations are found with surface performance, e.g., adhesion and friction.  And, there are particular scales that work well for discrimination of surfaces.  These scales could provide insight for improving the understanding of topographically-related surface phenomena.