The degree of correlation betweenviscosity parameters (i.e. the suspensionviscosity, the aqueous phase viscosity andthe relative viscosity) and the surfacestructure of the dry coatings (i.e. thecorrelation length) was investigated. Thebest correlation seemed to be between thecorrelation length and the amount ofpolymer added, despite the fact that theinvestigated thickeners destabilized thesuspensions by different mechanisms. Thisindicates that the initial viscosity parametersare not the most important parameters withrespect to the surface microstructure of thefinal coating layer. Instead, the surfacemicrostructure seemed to be stronglygoverned by the increase in concentration ofwater-soluble polymer during the course ofthe consolidation (drying), indicating thatthe final surface microstructure was createdquite late in the consolidation process.