The local film formation of latex in model paper coating suspensions of low latex to CaCO3 volume fraction ratio, 0.27, has been studied using both topographic and phase images of atomic force microscopy. Local film formation is believed to work concurrently with latex migration. Both the dosage and molecular weight of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) have a visible effect on latex film formation. A greater dosage of CMC retards latex migration and a higher molecular weight of CMC prolongs the film-formation process. Another thickener, ethyl(hydmxyethyl)cellulose (EHEC), was compared to CMC, and EHEC creates a composite where deformed latex particles are encapsulated in EHEC. A higher Tg latex increases the amount of latex in the upper region of the coating. It is suggested that a lower Tg latex halts migration, which leads to film formation at an earlier stage, further down in an evaporating pore