Tablet coating is an important step in the manufacturing process, and it is associated with additional costs. so, tablet coating is done when the product requires taste masking, odor, color and to increase the stability of the tablet and to improve the pharmaceutical elegance, etc. The type of coating depends on the product requirements and generally the following types of tablet coating are done

1. Sugar coating
2. Film coating
3. Enteric coating

Sugar coating is a traditional and time-consuming method as it involves many steps where successive application of sugar-based coatings takes place. sugar coating gives a pleasant taste and attractive appearance. Sugar coating involves the following steps

• Seal coating: seal coating is done to prevent moisture penetration into the tablet core. seal coating is needed during the pan ladling process, where coating solution is manually ladled onto the tablets. However modern coating methods have eliminated this step. The commonly used seal coating ingredient is zein obtained from corn and is alcohol soluble.
• Subcoating: This is where the actual coating process starts. In sub-coating the tablets increase in weight, and this is done to bring the tablets into good shape and appearance. A gum based sticky binder solution is applied to the tablets and it is followed by dusting of sub coating powders. Some series of coatings applied until tablets achieve desired shape and size.  But for spray coating method binder and sub coating powders are made into solution. This solution is sprayed intermittently on to the tablet bed.
• Syrup coating  is done to fill the imperfections made on the tablet surface during the sub coating process and to impart desired color to the tablets.
• Polishing is the final step of sugar-coating process and this step gives elegance to the tablets where a warm solution of waxes like beeswax or carnauba is used to polish the tablets.