The present invention is directed to film coating systems for use on oral dosage
forms such as compressed tablets and orally-ingestible substrates which have improved
pearlescent qualities. The film coating systems can be applied either directly
to a substrate or after the substrate has been coated with a subcoat. In preferred
aspects, the pearlescent film coating is prepared as a dry powder mixture containing
a cellulosic polymer, a detackifier, a gloss enhancer, and a pearlescent pigment.
Film coating compositions containing an aqueous suspension of the powder mixtures,
methods of applying the coatings to substrates and the coated substrates are also disclosed.
