A pigment grind dispersion of titanium dioxide pigment-polymer composite particles is made by mixing titanium dioxide particles with an aqueous emulsion containing (i) less than a saturation level amount of water-insoluble film-forming first polymer particles that adsorb to the titanium dioxide particles, and (ii) an inhibiting or interfering amount of water-insoluble film-forming second polymer particles that do not adsorb to the titanium dioxide particles, wherein the pigment grind dispersion has a titanium dioxide pigment volume concentration of about 25 to about 50 and a titanic composite ratio of about 32 to about 60. The resulting titanium dioxide pigment-polymer composite particles can provide improved coating composition opacity compared to a coating composition that does not contain such composite particles, can employ reduced titanium dioxide amounts and less than a saturation level of the first polymer, and can provide improved storage stability.