A method of making an optical element including: forming an at least partial coating of an alignment medium to at least a portion of at least one surface of a substrate and at least partially ordering at least a portion of the alignment medium; forming at least one at least partial coating of an alignment transfer material on at least a portion of the coating of the alignment medium and aligning the alignment transfer material with at least a portion of the ordered alignment medium; and forming an at least partial coating including an anisotropic material and at least one photochromic-dichroic compound on the alignment transfer material, aligning at least a portion of the anisotropic material with the at least partially aligned alignment transfer material, and aligning at least a portion of the photochromic-dichroic compound with aligned anisotropic material.