Thin film devices including a film of a functional organic material, inorganic material or mixtures which are either insoluble or sparingly soluble in water, and deposited by electroplating. Particles of the functional material are dispersed in a micelle solution of a surfactant which is oxidizable and reducible by electrolysis in a colloidal state. Thin film devices prepared include color filters, optical recording media, electrochemical photoreceptors, nonlinear switching elements, and other devices requiring thin films of materials which are substantially insoluble in water.