Abstract: An optical coating is applied to an article surface of an article by providing a deposition substrate other than the article surface, wherein the deposition substrate is made of a removable material. The optical coating is thereafter deposited onto the deposition substrate. The optical coating is thereafter transferred to the article surface using a transfer support, which may be the deposition substrate or may be a different piece. The method includes thereafter affixing the optical coating to the article surface, and thereafter removing the transfer support.

Abstract: An optical coating is applied to an article surface of an article by applying a first release system to a deposition substrate, and depositing the optical coating onto the deposition substrate. A second release system and transfer substrate is applied to the second face of the optical coating. The first release system is dissolvable in a first-release-coating solvent that does not dissolve the second release system. The first release system is dissolved in the first-release-coating solvent that does not dissolve the second release system, to separate the optical coating from the deposition substrate. The first face of the optical coating is affixed to the article surface, and the transfer substrate is separated from the optical coating. Any of a variety of affixing techniques may be used.