Tablets and other objects are film coated by including in the tablet a film-forming polymer that is activated upon contact with an activating amount of liquid. The film-forming polymer, e.g., a cellulosic ether, is homogeneously mixed with the other ingredients of the tablet, shaped into any desirable form, loaded into a conventional coating apparatus, and sprayed or foamed with an activating amount of fluid, e.g., water, alcohol, etc., and dried. This coating process eliminates potential problems such as spray nozzle clogging, inappropriate coating fluid viscosity, and the inability to properly atomize the coating fluid. This coating process does not impart any appreciable weight or thickness gain to the tablet.