A method for the manufacture of patterned optical elements such as retarders or liquid crystal elements for use in optical retarders is described comprising the steps of forming an alignment layer comprising a spatially patterned monograting-like surface relief microstructure formed into a suitable receptive material laying down a coating material onto the alignment layer which exhibits an alignable LC phase solidifying the coating material layer to fix the alignment established during the LC phase. Patterned optical elements such as retarders or liquid crystal elements for use in optical retarders are also described.
