Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable printing ink. The ink includes a polar suspending medium in which a plurality of polymer microspheres are suspended. At least one surfactant is dissolved in the suspending medium, and a monomer is positioned in the ink such that polymerization of the monomer after the application of the ink to a substrate will hold the microspheres in fixed relations to one another. The microspheres have a chemically associated coloring agent to provide the ink with color. The ink may include a polymerization initiator, such as a photoinitiator, to cause the film to polymerize upon the application of a form of energy, such as ultraviolet light. The invention also provides methods for making and using the ink, and for adding a coloring agent to a plurality of polymer microspheres.