Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein provide methods of making alignment facilities for optical dyes connected to an optical substrate. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a method of making an alignment facility for an optical dye connected to at least a portion of an optical substrate, such as an ophthalmic substrate, by forming at least one at least partial coating comprising an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material on at least a portion of the substrate. Other non-limiting embodiments related to optical elements, such as but not limited to ophthalmic elements, comprising an alignment facility for an optical dye. Still other non-limiting embodiments provide alignment facilities for optical dyes comprising coatings or sheets of an at least partially ordered liquid crystal material.