A process for preparing an encapsulated pigment dispersion suitable for use in an ink jet printing ink comprising the following steps in the order I) followed by II): I) providing a dispersion comprising a pigment, a liquid medium and a dispersant comprising the repeat units from copolymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomers in components a) to c): a) from 75 to 97 parts of one or more hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising at least 50 parts benzyl (meth) acrylate; b) from 3 to 25 parts one or more hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers having one or more ionic group(s); c) from 0 to 2 parts of one or more hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers having a hydrophilic non-ionic group; and  wherein the parts are by weight and the sum of the parts a) to c) add up to 100; II) cross-linking the dispersant in the presence of the pigment and the liquid medium.