Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color
shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure
on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure
with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with
encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of
the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector
layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment
flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have 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 pigment flakes
can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant
compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers. The foils can be
laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate.