Optical elements and methods for their manufacture

An improved optical element having rises and faces, wherein light is substantially blocked from being reflected from said rises, whereby it is prohibited from being seen by an observer viewing an image formed by light reflected by said faces.

A method of making an improved optical element, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing an optical element having rises and faces, and
• (b) imparting an opaque coating to said rises by a step which comprises:
• positioning pre-printed opaque coating elements on a substrate material such that when the optical element is pressed, stamped, embossed or molded from said substrate material, rises of the completed element comprise said pre-printed opaque coating elements.

A method of making an improved optical element, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing a reflective optical element having rises and faces, and
• (b) imparting a coating to said rises which is substantially non-reflective as compared to the faces.

A method of making an improved optical element, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing an optical element having rises and faces, and
• (b) providing opaque markings that are not on the surface of the rises but which are so positioned with respect to the rises that the opaque markings intercept a substantial portion of the light which would pass through or reflect off of the rises.

A method of making an improved optical element, comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing an optical element having a first side with rises and faces and a reverse side without rises and faces, and
• (b) providing opaque markings on said reverse side, the markings being so positioned that they intercept a substantial portion of the light which would otherwise pass through or reflect from the rises.