Titanium-containing interference pigments and foils with color shifting properties

A color shifting pigment flake, comprising:

• a first titanium-containing absorber layer;
• a first dielectric layer over the first absorber layer;
• a reflector layer over the first dielectric layer;
• a second dielectric layer over the reflector layer;
• and
• a second titanium-containing absorber layer over the second dielectric layer;
• wherein the pigment flake exhibits a discrete color shift such that the pigment flake 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 first and second titanium-containing absorber layers comprising an absorbing material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxynitride, titanium carbide, titanium oxynitride carbide, titanium silicide, titanium diboride, titanium mixed with carbon, titanium mixed with silicon, and combinations thereof.

A color shifting pigment flake, comprising:

• a reflector layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface;
• a first dielectric layer over the top surface but not the at least one side surface of the reflector layer;
• a second dielectric layer over the bottom surface but not the at least one side surface of the reflector layer;
• and
• a titanium-containing absorber layer substantially free of titanium dioxide and in contact with the at least one side surface of the reflector layer;
• wherein the pigment flake exhibits a discrete color shift such that the pigment flake 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.

A color shifting pigment flake, comprising:

• a core reflector layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface;
• a pair of opposing dielectric layers on the top surface and the bottom surface but not on the at least one side surface of the reflector layer;
• and
• a titanium-containing absorber layer substantially surrounding the dielectric layers and in contact with at least one side surface of the reflector layer;
• wherein the pigment flake exhibits a discrete color shift such that the pigment flake 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 of viewing.

A color shifting pigment flake, comprising:

• a core layer;
• a reflector coating substantially surrounding the core layer;
• a dielectric layer substantially surrounding the reflector coating;
• and
• a titanium-containing absorber layer substantially surrounding the dielectric layer;
• wherein the pigment flake exhibits a discrete color shift such that the pigment flake 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.

A method of fabricating a color shifting pigment flake composition, comprising:

• providing one or more reflector layers;
• forming one or more dielectric layers on the reflector layers;
• and
• forming one or more titanium-containing absorber layers on the dielectric layers, the absorber layers comprising an absorbing material substantially free of titanium dioxide, thereby producing a pigment flake composition exhibiting a discrete color shift such that the composition 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.