A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 .mu.m; and an image stabilizer configured for improving durability of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to or otherwise associated with the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a stabilizer precursor-containing monomer; polymerizing the stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.