Stress development during drying of coatings produced from aqueous dispersions of calcium carbonate particles in the presence and absence of organic binders was studied using a controlled-environment stress apparatus that simultaneously monitored drying stress, weight loss, and relative humidity. Specifically, the influence of two organic binders on drying stress evolution was investigated: (1) carboxymethylcellulose, a water-soluble viscosifying aid, and (2) a styrene–butadiene latex emulsion of varying glass transition temperature. The stress histories exhibited three distinct regions. First, a period of stress rise was observed, which reflected the capillary tension exerted by the liquid on the particle network. Second, a maximum stress was observed. Third, it was followed by a period of either stress decay or rise depending on the organic species present. Significant differences in stress histories were observed between coatings containing soluble and nonsoluble binders. Maximum drying stresses ( σ max) of 0.2–0.5 MPa were observed for coatings produced from pure calcium carbonate or calcium carbonate–latex suspensions, whereas coatings with carboxymethylcellulose exhibited substantially higher σ max values of 1–2 MPa. Upon drying, these coatings were quite hygroscopic, such that cyclic variations in relative humidity induced large cyclic changes in residual stress.