The analysis of a sheet metal surface is essential to describe phenomena like friction or varnishing ability. As 2D measurements are not sufficient for a full understanding of the surface performance, 3D image analysis methods are performed to characterise the topography of rough surfaces. In this paper some investigations are presented concerning the lubrication area and the material cut spots of a St14 sheet surface. To consider relevant aspects for metal forming, roughness measurements have been performed with elongated and loaded sheets. The evolution of the surface structure is essential to understand effects like the lubricated friction or the contact between the paint and rough surfaces.