Colorant, dispersants, dispersions, and inks are provided which include crosslinked polymeric nanoparticles (hereafter "PNPs") having a mean diameter in the range of from 1 to 50 nanometers, the PNPs including as polymerized units at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer. Also provided are methods for preparing colorants, dispersants, dispersions, and inks which include PNPs.