Molecular engineering of textile dyes has produced new materials that have thermostability like the precursor textile dyes, and that can be used to produce thin film coatings. Dye molecules are aligned in crystalline fashion and produce a polarizing effect. Blending different dye mixes controls optical and color characteristics of such film polarizers. Effective black and color thin film polarizers made from dye blends with hues varying in wide range of color coordinates were manufactured and tested.

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New submicron film retarders are produced by the deposition and drying of water-based lyotropic liquid crystal materials on various substrates. The coatings have high refraction coefficient anisotropy. Birefringence varies from 0.5 to 1.0 for 380-900nm wavelength range. These materials provide new options for LCD designs.