The core-shell morphology of polyacrylate latex particles containing a fluoropolymer in the shell was characterized via the fluorescent nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) technique. This technique enables one to follow the extent of mixing of fluorescently labeled latex particles during film formation. The comparison between the film formation behavior of fully labeled core-shell particles and partially labeled (no probe in the shell) core-shell particles showed evidence of the core-shell morphology of our particles. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 2409–2419, 1997