Method for determining the amount of a pigmented layer applied to at least one wood-based panel in a production line for wood-based panels comprising the following steps: - Applying the pigmented layer as a liquid application to the wood-based panel; - Drying of the applied pigmented layer; - subsequently recording at least one NIR spectrum of the pigmented layer applied to the at least one wood-based panel using at least one NIR detector in a wavelength range between 900 nm and 1700 nm which has an absorption band with an absorption maximum at approx. 1495 nm corresponding to the first harmonic of N-H groups, a first harmonic of water at about 1450 nm and an absorption band at about 1575 nm corresponding to a first harmonic of the peptide bond (-CONH-); and - Determining the applied amount of the pigmented layer of the pigmented layer applied to the wood-based panel by comparison over the entire recorded wavelength range i. of the NIR spectrum determined for the applied amount to be measured ii. with at least one NIR spectrum determined for at least one reference sample with a known applied amount of pigmented layer using the same NIR detector over the entire wavelength range recorded by means of multivariate data analysis, wherein the determination of the applied amount of pigmented layer is carried out continuously online in the production line for the manufacture of wood-based panels, and wherein the at least one NIR detector moves transversely to the direction of travel of the wood-based panels provided with the pigmented layer in the production line and analyses shortfalls in the edge or central region of the wood-based panel. - Applying the pigmented layer as a liquid application to the wood-based panel; - Drying of the applied pigmented layer; - subsequently recording at least one NIR spectrum of the pigmented layer applied to the at least one wood-based panel using at least one NIR detector in a wavelength range between 900 nm and 1700 nm which has an absorption band with an absorption maximum at approx. 1495 nm corresponding to the first harmonic of N-H groups, a first harmonic of water at about 1450 nm and an absorption band at about 1575 nm corresponding to a first harmonic of the peptide bond (-CONH-); and - Determining the applied amount of the pigmented layer of the pigmented layer applied to the wood-based panel by comparison over the entire recorded wavelength range i. of the NIR spectrum determined for the applied amount to be measured ii. with at least one NIR spectrum determined for at least one reference sample with a known applied amount of pigmented layer using the same NIR detector over the entire wavelength range recorded i. of the NIR spectrum determined for the applied amount to be measured ii. with at least one NIR spectrum determined for at least one reference sample with a known applied amount of pigmented layer using the same NIR detector over the entire wavelength range recorded wherein the determination of the applied amount of pigmented layer is carried out continuously online in the production line for the manufacture of wood-based panels, and wherein the at least one NIR detector moves transversely to the direction of travel of the wood-based panels provided with the pigmented layer in the production line and analyses shortfalls in the edge or central region of the wood-based panel.