Retarder film combinations with spatially selective birefringence reduction

A composite film, comprising:

• a retarder film providing a first light retardation;
• and
• an optical film connected to the retarder film such that at least some light transmitted by the retarder film impinges upon the optical film, the optical film providing a first reflective characteristic;
• wherein the retarder film has a first absorption characteristic suitable to, upon exposure to a first light beam, absorptively heat the first retarder layer by an amount sufficient to change the first light retardation to a second light retardation without changing the first reflective characteristic of the optical film and while maintaining a structural integrity of the retarder film;
• and
• wherein the optical film has a second absorption characteristic suitable to, upon exposure to a second light beam, absorptively heat the optical film by an amount sufficient to change the first reflective characteristic to a second reflective characteristic without changing the first light retardation of the retarder film,
• wherein the first and second light beams are incident on the same side of the composite.

A method of making a patterned retarder film, comprising:

• providing a composite retarder film that includes a first film providing a first light retardation and a second film providing a second light retardation, the second film being disposed such that at least some light transmitted by the first film impinges upon the second film;
• directing a first beam of light at the composite retarder film to selectively heat the first film in order to change the first light retardation to a third light retardation without substantially changing the second light retardation;
• and
• directing a second beam of light at the composite retarder film to selectively heat the second film in order to change the second light retardation to a fourth light retardation without substantially changing the first light retardation,
• wherein the first beam of light comprises a write wavelength and the second beam of light also comprises the write wavelength, and wherein the composite retarder film includes a blocking layer that at least partially blocks light of the write wavelength.
• wherein the first and second light beams are incident on the same side of the composite.

A method of making a patterned film, comprising:

• providing a composite film that includes an optical film and a retarder film disposed such that at least some light transmitted by the retarder film impinges upon the optical film, the optical film providing a first reflective characteristic, and the retarder film providing a first light retardation;
• directing a first beam of light at the composite film to change the first reflective characteristic to a different second reflective characteristic in a first zone without substantially changing the first light retardation in the first zone;
• and
• directing a second beam of light at the film to change the first light retardation to a different second light retardation in a second zone without substantially changing the first reflective characteristic in the second zone,
• wherein the first and second light beams are incident on the same side of the composite.