The influence of the supramolecular interaction type-hydrogen bonding, proton transfer, and pure ionic bonding-on photoresponsive behavior, particularly surface relief grating (SRG) inscription, has been investigated using a homopolymer with an ambient temperature glass transition (T-g). To this end, poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA or PDM) of relatively high molecular weight (42K) was complexed at various azo/DM molar ratios with dimethylaminoazobenzene derivatives functionalized by hydroxyl (azoOH) or carboxylic acid (p-methyl red or azoCOOH) groups, and quaternized PDM (PDMQ) was complexed at equimolar ratio with a sulfonated analogue (methyl orange or azoSO(3)), and the structural and thermal properties of these complexes were determined. SRG inscription on spin-coated films was found to be possible because complexation increases the Tg above ambient. The efficiency of SRG inscription on spin-coated films, which increases with azo content, is highest for the purely ionic azoSO(3)/PDMQ complex despite its very high Tg, while the proton transfer azoCOOH/PDM complexes, involving ionic and H-bonding with acid-salt structures, show somewhat more efficient SRG inscription than do the purely hydrogen-bonded azoOH/PDM complexes, and this despite some azoCOOH crystallization at the highest molar ratios. These findings clarify the comparative effectiveness of different supramolecular bond types on SRG inscription and provide a useful guide for the design of supramolecular photoresponsive polymers for SRG applications.