Abstract: Photographic silverhalide containing materials having improved mechanical and electrostatic properties are obtained by adding to at least one of the layers of the material a cross-linked polymer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid which is prepared either (a) by inverse emulsion polymerization of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid monomers in the presence of polyfunctional cross-linking monomers and an emulsifier and breaking of the emulsion and redispersion of the polymer particles in water; or (3) by emulsion polymerization of aliphatic esters of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid in water in the presence of polyfunctional cross-linking monomers and of an emulsifier, followed by saponification of the polymer.