Process of preparing a light modulation element

A process of preparing a light modulation element comprising the steps of

• a) providing a layer of a liquid crystal medium comprising one or more bimesogenic compounds, one or more chiral compounds, and one or more polymerisable compounds between two substrates, wherein at least one substrate is transparent to light and an electrode is provided on each of the opposing substrates,
• b) heating the liquid crystal medium to its isotropic phase,
• c) cooling the liquid crystal medium between 1° C. up to 10° or less below the clearing point of the medium while applying voltage between the electrodes, which is sufficient to switch the liquid crystal medium between switched states,
• d) at the cooled temperature of between 1° C. up to 10° or less below the clearing point of the medium exposing said layer of the liquid crystal medium to photoradiation that induces photopolymerisation of the polymerisable compounds while applying voltage between the electrodes.