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The current two major non-numerical design methods, equivalent layers and polynomial synthesis, are reviewed and compared. The equivalent layer method works well when only a small number of fixed refractive indices is available. This is the case when the coating is manufactured by evaporation. Polynomial synthesis generates a priori better designs but does not allow predetermination of refractive indices. So, for evaporation, the designs have to be translated from many refractive indices to a few. This process generally downgrades the design. This translation is not necessary when spuftering or chemical vapor deposition is being used. Here, in-between refractive indices can easily be generated by mixing or flip-flopping. As a consequence, superior designs can be implemented.

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The reflectance and transmittance of dielectric films at nonzero angle of incidence show strong polarization effects, and for many applications these effects are not wanted. Costich has recently published on the reduction of these effects in interference films. The extension of his theory to the case of a multilayer inside a glass cube is possible, but an efficient design does not result. In this paper another method using quarter-wave layers only is developed.