Abstract: A magnetoresistive permalloy film is deposited upon a substrate and coated with a separating layer composed of titanium or a similar high resistivity, conductive material. A soft biasing layer of a material such as permalloy or a hard biasing material such as cobalt chromium is deposited upon the separating layer to complete a sandwich. All layers are coextensive in outline because their outlines are formed by a single etching step.

Abstract: A first thin film of appropriate texture, lattice constant, and crystal structure, such as body centered cubic vanadium or chromium with (110) texture is deposited upon a rigid or flexible substrate forming a plurality of polycrystals. A ferrite such as magnetite (Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4) is sputtered from a target onto the first thin film forming a mixture of .gamma.Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 substantially completely without formation of Fe or other oxides of iron, providing good magnetic characteristics and resistance to corrosion. The substrate temperature can be maintained as low as 200.degree.C for both steps when sputtering or evaporation is employed.