The effects of intenseQ‐switched ruby laser radiation on the colloidal systems NaCl[Au] and CaF2[Ca] were investigated by microscope and absorption spectroscopy techniques. A dependence of the width and depth of the surface crater on the incident laser pulse energy was established. In the case of NaCl[Au] a shift of the absorption maximum towards shorter wavelengths was observed. This was interpreted in terms of Mie's theory. Calculations on the temperatures generated in the colloids and its surroundings were done using Goldenberg's theoretical results.