The invention provides a method for producing colored contact lenses with relatively high quality color images. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a water based ink having a viscosity of greater than about 100 centipoise (cps) and comprising at least one colorant, a water-soluble binder polymer having ethylenically unsaturated groups, an initiator, and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount sufficient to provide the ink a dynamic surface tension of less than about 40 dyne/cm at surface age of about 1 second, and wherein the initiator is present in an amount sufficient to allow the ink to be cured with an energy exposure which is comparable with an energy exposure required for curing the lens-forming material; (b) applying the ink, by using pad transfer printing technique, to at least a portion of at least one of molding surfaces of a lens mold to form a colored coat; (c) actinically curing the ink printed on the mold to form a colored film, wherein the printed ink is cured to an extent so that no noticeable color smearing is observed by examination with naked eyes; (d) dispensing a lens-forming material into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (e) actinically or thermally curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored film detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens, wherein the colored film becomes part of one of the anterior and posterior surface of the colored contact lens and has a good adhesion to the lens.