Silver halide photographic material comprising finely divided solid spherical polymer beads having an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 10 .mu.m and having a glass transition temperature of at least 40.degree. C. The polymer beads are prepared by a one step reaction in an aqueous reaction medium whereby the polymer beads are formed by the simultaneous reaction of1) a silane monomer comprising an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated group,2) at least one .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, different from the silane monomer, capable of forming a polymer that is soluble in the monomer(s) present in the aqueous solvent mixture but which is insoluble in water,3) a free radical-forming polymerization initiator that is soluble in the aqueous solvent mixture, and4) a graft-polymerizable polymer containing hydrophilic groups, and capable of forming a graft polymer that remains soluble in the aqueous reaction mixture.