Process for producing a dispersion, wherein dispersed slightly crosslinked polyvinyl seed particles are swollen with an ionizing liquid, said seed particles containing covalently linked ionizable groups causing a swelling of the seed particles by the ionizing liquid to form a dispersion of droplets, wherein the resulting droplets after the swelling have a volume which is at least 5 times that of the seed particles. Said ionizing liquid may be or contain a polymerizable monomer or be charged with such a monomer. Polymerization of the monomers is effected in the droplets during or after the swelling, to form polymer particles.