Styrene-maleic acid copolymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization. Encapsulated pigment red 122 dispersions were prepared by sedimentation with these copolymers. Effects of copolymer structure such as molar content of maleic acid, molecular weight, and the amount of copolymers on stability and particle size of dispersion were investigated. The results showed that encapsulated pigment dispersion with higher stability, smaller particle size, and narrower particle distribution could be achieved when the molar content of maleic acid was at 0.43 and the intrinsic viscosity was at 79.65 ml/g with amount of copolymers 10%. The encapsulated layer was about 5 nm which could be observed by TEM. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.