Color shifting thin film pigments

A symmetrical color shifting multilayer interference film, comprising:

• a first absorber layer;
• a first dielectric layer on the first absorber layer, the first dielectric layer having an index of refraction greater than 1.65;
• a reflector layer on the first dielectric layer;
• a second dielectric layer on the reflector layer, the second dielectric layer composed of the same material as the first dielectric layer;
• and
• a second absorber layer on the second dielectric layer, the second absorber layer composed of the same material and having the same physical thickness as the first absorber layer;
• wherein the first and second dielectric layers have an optical thickness at a design wavelength that provides a discrete color shift such that the film has a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing, the optical thickness of the first and second dielectric layers being the same.

A symmetrical color shifting multilayer interference film, comprising:

• a first absorber layer;
• a first dielectric layer on the first absorber layer, the first dielectric layer having an index of refraction of about 2 or greater;
• a reflector layer on the first dielectric layer;
• a second dielectric layer on the reflector layer, the second dielectric layer composed of the same material as the first dielectric layer;
• and
• a second absorber layer on the second dielectric layer, the second absorber layer composed of the same material and having the same physical thickness as the first absorber layer;
• wherein the first and second dielectric layers have an optical thickness in a range from about 2 QWOT at a design wavelength of about 400 nm to about 9 QWOT at a design wavelength of about 700 nm, the optical thickness of the first and second dielectric layers being the same and being chosen to provide a discrete color shift such that the film has a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing.