Silica microspheres unsymmetrically coated with Ag nanoparticles have been prepared by a modified microcontact printing method and chemical reduction. The tropism of the microspheres is controllable by adjusting the microcontact printing procedure. Transfer of the microspheres onto a polymer-coated substrate, followed by coating with an evaporated gold film and subsequent etching of the silica microspheres gives Ag-nanoparticle-doped polymer and gold composite voids.