Retroreflective article comprising embedded reflective layers

An intermediate article comprising:

• a disposable carrier layer with a major surface;
• a plurality of transparent microspheres partially and releasably embedded in the disposable carrier layer so that the transparent microspheres exhibit protruding surface areas;
• and wherein at least some of the transparent microspheres each comprise an isolated reflective layer that is present on a portion of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere;
• wherein each isolated reflective layer covers a portion of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere that is less than the entirety of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere,
• wherein the isolated reflective layers are irregular and non-circular in shape and are positioned on the transparent microspheres so that, on average, geometric centers of the isolated reflective layers at least generally coincide with forward-rearward centerlines of the transparent microspheres and so that the isolated reflective layers occupy angular arcs of, on average, from at least 15 degrees to less than 60 degrees;
• wherein all of the reflective layers on the transparent microspheres are metal reflective layers, with the proviso that none of the reflective layers on the transparent microspheres are, or include, a dielectric reflecting layer;
• and with the further proviso that for each transparent microspheres in which the isolated metal reflective layer covers the portion of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere that is less than the entirety of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere, a remaining portion of the protruding surface area of the transparent microsphere that is not covered by the isolated metal reflective layer, does not comprise any reflective material of any kind.