Abstract: A method of producing a patterned birefringent product, having at least steps (I) to (III) in this order: (I) providing a birefringent pattern builder having an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer having unreacted reactive groups; (II) heating a region of the birefringent pattern builder; and (III) subjecting the birefringent pattern builder to a process that reacts at least a part of the unreacted reactive groups in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a polarizer and to a polarizer produced by the production method. The invention also relates to a polarizing plate and an optical film each using the polarizer and to an image display such as a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescent display and a plasma display panel, each using the polarizing plate or the optical film. The invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning vessel for use in a cleaning process of a polarizer production method and to a cleaning system into which the cleaning apparatus is assembled.

Abstract: A method comprises spatially selectively irradiating in a predetermined pattern with an output beam of a laser system an interface between a polymer substrate and a metal film on the polymer substrate. The polymer substrate is substantially transparent to the output beam of the laser system; the metal film absorbs a substantial fraction of the output beam. Laser system output comprises a sequence of pulses. Beam size at the polymer/metal interface, pulse energy, and pulse duration are selected so that each pulse from the laser system that irradiates an area of the polymer/metal interface substantially completely removes by ablation the metal film from at least a portion of the irradiated area without substantially altering the surfaces or bulk of the polymer substrate and without leaving on the polymer substrate or on remaining areas of the metal film substantial residue of metal that resolidified after being melted by the laser irradiation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a film with excellent polarization selectivity and excellent diffusion properties, and a means for easily producing the same. The polarizing diffusion film has an intrinsic birefringence of at least 0.1 and substantially comprises one type of crystalline resin; and in the polarizing diffusion film, the total light transmittance is 50 to 90% in relation to visible light, the transmission haze is 15 to 90% in relation to visible light, and the degree of transmission polarization is 20 to 90% in relation to visible light.

Abstract: To provide a mold for nanoimprinting capable of accurately transcribing a fine concavo-convex structure, available at a low cost and having high durability, its production process, and processes for producing a molded resin having a fine concavo5 convex structure on its surface having the fine concavo-convex structure of the mold accurately transcribed, and a wire-grid polarizer, with high productivity. A mold 10 for nanoimprinting having on its mold surface a fine concavo-convex structure comprising a plurality of grooves 14 formed in parallel with one another at a constant pitch, which comprises a mold base 12 made of a resin having on its surface a 10 fine concavo-convex structure to be the base of the fine concavo-convex structure, a metal oxide layer 16 covering the surface having the fine concavo-convex structure of the mold base 12, and a release layer 18 covering the surface of the metal oxide layer 16, is used.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an optical film via a solution casting method on a transparent substrate film comprising the steps of: (i) ejecting a micro-particle dispersion containing micro-particles having a average particle diameter of at least 25-200 nm as liquid droplets by use of an ink-jet head when a residual solvent content in a web is 5-400 weight %, and (ii) depositing the liquid droplets to adhere onto one side surface of a web and to form a micro convex structure, and further to form 1-10,000 points of convex parts per 10,000 ?m2 having a height of the convex parts of the convex structure of 0.01-0.5 ?m.

Abstract: A transparent polymer film satisfying Rth/Re??0.39, Re>0 and Rth<0 and having a moisture permeability of 100-2000 g/(m2·day) at 40° C. and a relative humidity of 90%, and not containing an additive composition that raises Rth by at least 8 nm.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include composite articles having specific optical properties. In one embodiment of this invention, a composite comprises high and low refractive index light transmitting material and surface relief features. In further embodiments, the composite comprises volumetric dispersed phase domains that may be asymmetric in shape. In one embodiment of this invention, the composite is an optical film providing light collimating features along two orthogonal planes perpendicular to the surface of the film. In another embodiment, the composite has improved optical, thermal, mechanical, or environmental properties. In further embodiments of this invention, the composite is manufactured by optically coupling or extruding two or more light transmitting materials, and forming inverted light collimating surface relief features or light collimating surface relief features.

Abstract: An optical cellulose ester film comprising a cellulose ester (A); at least one ester based plasticizer (B) selected from ester based plasticizers composed of a polyhydric alcohol and a univalent carboxylic acid, or ester based plasticizers composed of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a monohydric alcohol; at least one stabilizer (C) selected from the group consisting of a phenol based stabilizer, a hindered amine based stabilizer, or a phosphorous based stabilizer; and a hydrogen bonding solvent (D).

Abstract: A method for controlling positive birefringence in an optical compensation film (positive C-plate) having high positive birefringence throughout the wavelength range 400 nm<?<800 nm is provided. The method includes selecting polymers with optically anisotropic subunits (OASUs) that exhibit the buttressing effect, wherein the OASUs may be disks, mesogens or aromatic rings substituted with birefringence enhancing substituents. The method further includes processing the polymer by solution casting to yield a polymer film with high birefringence without the need for stretching, photopolymerization, or other processes. These optical compensation films may be used in LCDs, particularly IPS-LCDs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method to produce a semi-crystalline fluoro-polymer film. A semi-crystalline fluoro-polymer material is used. The material is compressed to produce the film. During compression, the material is maintained at a temperature below the melting point of the material. The compression step can be cycled to allow cooling of the material between compression stages. Alternative methods are provided for compressing the material with a co-extrusion substrate, extruding the material and utilizing mandrel expansion for the material.

Abstract: A polarizer plate includes a polarizer that includes polyvinyl alcohol and a dichroic material, the polarizer having a degree of orientation of 15 or more as represented by Equation 1: Degree of orientation=RD/RPVA×100, where RPVA represents a phase difference of the polyvinyl alcohol and RD represents a phase difference of the dichroic material.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical film having a reduced thickness and an increased width, which is free from bleedout with the elapse of time (during storage) in a continuous wound state, a method for manufacturing an optical film, and a polarizing plate using the optical film. The optical film is a plasticizer-containing optical film having an overall width of 1500 mm to 4000 mm produced by a solution casting method. The amount of the plasticizer present in the center portion in the surface side of the optical film is determined as value A by TOF-SIMS. The amount of the plasticizer present in the center portion in the back side is determined as value B by the TOF-SIMS. Value X is determined by formula 1 based on the values A and B. The amount of the plasticizer present in the end portion in the surface side of the optical film is determined as value A? by TOF-SIMS, and the amount of the plasticizer present in the end portion of the back side is determined as value B? by the TOF-SIMS.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.02, with said first polymer being an amorphous material and a continuous phase, and a second polymer which forms a dispersed phase, and having an index of refraction that differs from said continuous phase by greater than about 0.05 along a first axis and by less than about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a diffusely reflecting polarizer, comprising the steps of: coextruding first and second polymers through a chaotic mixer and a sheeting die to produce a cast sheet with a desired blend morphology and stretching said cast sheet to produce a composite film containing a first polymer having a birefringence of less than 0.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes an LCD panel including a polarizing plate disposed on at least one surface thereof, a light guide plate (“LGP”) disposed below the LCD panel and including reflective patterns which reflect light incident on the LGP toward the LCD panel, and a composite polarizing sheet disposed between the LCD panel and the LGP and including; a surface layer having a plurality of prism patterns which extend in a first direction and which are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a reflective polarizing layer having a transmission axis oriented in a second direction other than the first direction, wherein the second direction is one of substantially parallel to or perpendicular to a polarizing axis of the polarizing plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose ester film which, when used in a polarizing plate, can impart excellent dimensional stability, curling properties and surface properties to the polarizing plate. Also disclosed is a light-scattering-film, a polarizing plate or a liquid crystal display element which is produced by using the cellulose ester film, and therefore has more excellent optical anisotropy, higher surface properties and a smoother surface, causes less curling, and has good surface quality. The cellulose ester film comprises 1 to 50% by mass (inclusive) of microparticles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 400 nm (inclusive) and a compound showing negative birefringence in the direction of drawing, and has a retardation value (R0) defined by the equation (I) of 0 to 5 nm (inclusive) and a retardation value (Rt) defined by the equation (II) of ?10 to 20 nm (inclusive), both measured at 23° C. and 55% RH: Equation (I): R0=(nx?ny)×d; and Equation (II): Rt=[(nx+ny)/2×nz]×d.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film in which the number of V-shaped thickness-uneven portions having a variation width in the thickness direction of 0.1 to 10% of a film thickness and a width in the in-plane direction of 1 to 20 mm is in the range of 0 to 10 per 100 m in the length direction of the film. A display unevenness is solved in a liquid crystal display device having the cellulose acylate film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing a lenticular sheet comprising the steps of providing a substrate of transparent material having a first side and a second side; and engraving a cylinder with an inverse lens pattern, the inverse lens pattern being comprised of a plurality if inverse lenticule shapes, each inverse lenticule shape having an incremental pitch relative to the others; and using the engraved cylinder in an extrusion embossment process such that the substrate can be embossed with the inverse lens pattern, wherein the lenticular sheet produced comprises a lens pattern having a plurality of lenticules each of a uniform pitch relative to one another.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an optical film which suffers neither flatness deterioration nor film breakage and is free from problems concerning undulating undulation and partial light leakage. The process for optical film production comprises laminating a cellulose ester resin layer (A) to an acrylic resin layer (B) by coextrusion. The process is characterized in that the cellulose ester resin layer (A) contains 55 to 99 mass % cellulose ester resin and the acrylic resin layer (B) contains 55 to 99 mass % acrylic resin, that the web is conveyed while keeping the layer (A) and the layer (B) in contact with the surface of a first cooling roll and the surface of a second cooling roll, respectively, and that when the surface temperature of the first cooling roll and the surface temperature of the second cooling roll are expressed by Ta (° C.) and Tb (° C.), respectively, then the Ta (° C.) and Tb (° C.) satisfy the following relationship (1). (Ta?80)° C.<Tb(° C.)<(Ta?5)° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is transversely stretched, and then transported in a heat-treating zone (46) such that the ratio (G/D) of an inter-roll distance (G) to a roll lap length (D) is 0.01 to 3, and the ratio (V2/V1) of an exit-side transporting speed (V2) to an entry-side transporting speed (V1) is 0.6 to 0.999. The thermoplastic film is heat-treated in the heat-treating zone (46) at (Tg?20)° C. to (Tg+50)° C., in which Tg is the glass transition temperature of the film. The heat-treated thermoplastic film exhibits an Rth/Re ratio of at least 0.5 and less than 1, an Rth/Re ratio range of 0.01 to 0.1 in the width direction, and a thermal dimensional change of 0.001% to 0.3% under conditions of 80° C. and 200 hours.

Abstract: A method of producing a roll of an optical film laminate strip including a polarizing film includes the steps of: forming a continuous web of optical film laminate including a polarizing film which consists of a polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer and has a thickness of 10 ?m or less, wherein the polarizing film is formed by performing an stretching sub-step of subjecting a laminate comprising a continuous web of thermoplastic resin substrate and a polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer formed on the substrate, to a uniaxial stretching in a lengthwise direction of the laminate based on 2-stage stretching consisting of preliminary in-air stretching and in-boric-acid-solution stretching; cutting the continuous web of optical film laminate along a direction parallel to the length direction to form at least one continuous web of laminate strip having a given width; and winding the continuous web of laminate strip having the given width into a roll.

Abstract: A polarizing film includes a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) type resin having a dichroic material impregnated therein. The polarizing film is formed by stretching the PVA type resin, such that the thickness of the polarizing film is decreased to 10 ?m or less, and. The polarizing film has optical properties which satisfy conditions represented by formulae: P>?(100.929T-42.4?1)×100 (where T<42.3); and P?99.9 (where T?42.3) where T represents a single layer transmittance and P a polarization rate. The polarizing film can be made by providing a laminate comprising a PVA type resin layer formed on a non-crystallizable ester type thermoplastic resin substrate.

Abstract: A composition for a polarization film including a polyolefin component including polypropylene and a polyethylene-polypropylene copolymer; and a dichroic dye.

Abstract: A mold of the present invention includes: a flexible polymer film; a curable resin layer provided on a surface of the polymer film; and a porous alumina layer provided on the curable resin layer, the porous alumina layer having an inverted moth-eye structure in its surface, the inverted moth-eye structure having a plurality of recessed portions whose two-dimensional size viewed in a direction normal to the surface is not less than 10 nm and less than 500 nm. According to the present invention, a method for easily forming a flexible moth-eye mold which can be deformed into the form of a roll is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a cellulose acylate resin film, comprising the step of, melting a cellulose acylate resin in an extruder and extruding the molten cellulose acylate resin to a die, wherein the step of melting is carried out using a tandem extruder having a first-stage extruder and a second-stage extruder connected in tandem, in order to prevent discoloration and thickness non-uniformity make the film seriously defective for use as an optical film. Because the resin in the form of a powder or flakes is once pelletized in a pelletizing extruder, and then the pellets are melt-extruded in an extruder. This promotes discoloration of the resin, disadvantageously.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretched film comprising supplying a film composed of a thermoplastic resin along a direction D1 that is different from a taking-up direction D2 of a post-stretch film, and obliquely stretching the film while transferring the film with the edges thereof being gripped by gripping devices, to produce the stretched film having an orientation angle ? being within 45±5° with respect to the taking-up direction.

Abstract: A method of producing and optical film, comprises the steps of: mixing a resin and grains, heating a mixture of the resin and the grains and kneading the heated melted mixture, thereby preparing a mixture material of the resin and the grains; dissolving the mixture material in a solvent, thereby preparing a resin solution; and casting the resin solution so as to form an optical film.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a polarizer having improved cross transmittance. The method for producing a polarizer includes: dyeing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based film with molecular iodine by immersing the PVA-based film in an aqueous iodine solution (a dyeing step); absorbing the molecular iodine into the PVA-based film using an aqueous boric acid solution (a cross-linking step); arranging the molecular iodine in the certain direction by stretching the PVA-based film in a certain direction (an stretching step); and drying, in an oven, the PVA-based film in which the molecular iodine is oriented; wherein a phosphate compound is added to the iodine aqueous solution (the dyeing step) or the aqueous boric acid solution (the stretching step) so that a weight ratio of the boric acid: the phosphate compound is in a range of 1:0.1 to 1:10.

Abstract: Method of making eyeglass lens are disclosed where the lens are made of layers which include an outer, convex hard coating, a layer of hard epoxy, a laminated PVA film where one of the layer of the PVA film is dipped in high contrast dye, a layer of soft epoxy, a base material, and an inner, concave hard coating. Other methods configuration of lens also include a camouflaged patterned lens, a layer of hard epoxy, a polyurethane mixture, a laminated PVA film where one of the layer of the PVA film is dipped with high contrast dye, a layer of soft epoxy, a base material, and an inner, concave hard coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic plastic film. According to said method, the thermoplastic plastic is melted and transported in an extrusion installation comprising an extruder, an extrusion nozzle with a wide-slot delivery opening and a chill roll, which is fixed to a roll system and then leaves the delivery opening of the extrusion nozzle in the form of a flat melted web. Said melted web is then applied to the chill roll and is cooled. The invention is characterised in that it uses an extrusion installation, in which the distance between the delivery opening of the extrusion nozzle and the surface of the cooled roll does not vary by more than +/?50 ?m during the operating time. The invention also relates to a film of this type and to uses of the latter.

Abstract: Optical qualities of a production lot of base material used in the fabrication of semi-finished lenses may be accurately determined by employing chipper plate samples produced from the base material in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In various implementations of the present invention, the chipper plates samples may be fabricated by subjecting base material to an extended cycle time and temperature profile using a mold having cavities of different thicknesses. The resulting chipper plates provide an improved indication of the color of semi-finished lenses molded from the production lot as well as an improved indication of resin stabilizer defects that may be utilized during a pelletizing process to control and enhance the quality of a production lot. Furthermore, the chipper plates may be provided by suppliers as samples of a production lot to enable customers to base purchasing decisions on a reliable and accurate measure of optical properties.

Abstract: A cellulose ester film exhibiting: a free volume radius of 0.25 to 0.31 nm and a half-width of 0.04 to 0.1 nm, the free volume radius and the half-width being determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy; and Ro of 0 to nm and Rt of ?30 to +20 nm, Ro and Rt being defined by the following equations: Equation (a): Ro=(nx?ny)×d; Equation (b): Rt=((nx+ny)/2?nz)×d (Ro: in-plane retardation, Rt: retardation in the thickness direction of the film, nx: in-plane refractive index in slow axis direction, ny: in-plane refractive index in fast axis direction, nz: refractive index in the thickness direction of the film (refractive indexes being measured at wavelength of 590 nm), d: thickness of the film (nm)).

Abstract: A polarizing film, a polarizing plate, a method of preparing the polarizing film, and an organic light-emitting apparatus including the polarizing plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making an optical device for contrast enhancement of a viewing display, such as a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, an inorganic light emitting diode display panel, or an organic light emitting diode display panel.

Abstract: Method of making eyeglass lens are disclosed where the lens are made of layers which include an outer, convex hard coating, a layer of hard epoxy, a laminated PVA film where one of the layer of the PVA film is coated in the peripheral portion, a layer of soft epoxy, a base material, and an inner, concave hard coating. Other methods configuration of lens also include a camouflaged patterned lens, a layer of hard epoxy, a polyurethane mixture, a laminated PVA film where one of the layer of the PVA film is coated in the peripheral portion, a layer of soft epoxy, a base material, and an inner, concave hard coating.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a polarizing plate includes: providing a polarizing roll film having transmission axes; and cutting the polarizing roll film with a knife having a plurality of openings each having a rectangular shape to form a plurality of polarizing plates, the plurality of openings parallel to the transmission axes.

Abstract: A reflective film includes interior layers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, the layers extending from a first to a second zone of the film. In the first zone, the layers operate substantially as a reflective polarizer; in the second zone they operate substantially as a mirror. The layers may thus provide a first reflective characteristic in the first zone wherein normally incident light of one polarization state is substantially reflected and normally incident light of an orthogonal polarization state is substantially transmitted, and a second reflective characteristic in the second zone wherein normally incident light of any polarization state is substantially reflected. The film may have a first thickness in the first zone that is substantially the same as a second thickness in the second zone. Alternatively, the second thickness may be substantially less than the first thickness. Related methods, articles, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transparent product that gives an image only at one side, which can be used for an advertisement on the window or the like, which is a product that has a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher, a birefringent layer which is a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern or a driven-type optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid-crystal compound driven by voltage application to control the optical anisotropy, and a polarizing layer in this order and does not have, at the opposite side of the polarizing layer with respect to the birefringent layer, a polarizing layer, is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a nano-patterning process to fabricate nanostructures. A roller type mold is used to continuously imprint nanostructures onto a flexible web or a rigid substrate. The process includes a coating and an imprinting module, which rotate the web synchronously. Liquid resist materials are used for imprinting and the patterns are set by thermal or UV curing. The process is used to produce bilayer metal wire-grid polarizers, organic solar cells, and organic light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Two types of layers are simultaneously formed on a substrate and another substrate under the same layer forming condition, the heights of which are equal to a half height of an intended retardation compensation layer. Physical properties of the respective two types of layers formed on the substrates are identical to each other, and if deviations are produced in retardation distribution characteristics for azimuth angles of incident light, these deviations are commonly provided in the respective two types of layers. When one substrate is superposed with the other substrate and these superposed substrates are integrated with each other in order to make a single sheet of retardation compensation element, after one of these substrates is rotated by an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the other substrate, these substrates are stuck to each other by an adhesive agent.

Abstract: A method for producing a polarizing film comprising the step of dipping a polyvinyl alcohol film in/on which iodine is adsorbed and oriented in an aqueous solution containing boric acid wherein the aqueous solution has an absorbance of 0.13 or less at a wavelength of 450 nm. The produced polarizing film has a high contrast.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polarizing plate protective film including the steps of: 1) mixing a cellulose ester resin and an organic additive to obtain a mixing composition, 2) placing the mixing composition in a mold to obtain an integral molding, and 3) heating to melt the integral molding so as to form the polarizing plate protective film, wherein the integral molding has a size of 1 mm×1 mm×1 mm to 20 mm×20 mm×20 mm, and the cellulose ester resin is contained in the integral molding in a state of particles.

Abstract: An antireflection film comprising a support and a low refractive index layer prepared by coating a coating composition containing the following components: (A) a fluorine-containing polymer, a principal chain of which is made of only carbon atoms and which contains at least one fluorine-containing vinyl monomer polymerization unit and at least one hydroxyl group-containing vinyl monomer polymerization unit, wherein a content of the hydroxyl group-containing vinyl monomer polymerization unit exceeds 20% by mole, provided that the polymer does not have a polysiloxane structure in the principal chain; (B) a crosslinking agent capable of reacting with a hydroxyl group; and (C) a compound containing two or more (meth)acryloyl groups in one molecule thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic film, comprising cooling and solidifying a filmy thermoplastic melt resin, by holding it between a metallic presser and a metallic casting roll for cooling; wherein the temperature of the filmy thermoplastic resin just before being held between the metallic presser and the casting roll for cooling is from Tg+20° C. to Tg+90° C. and a difference between a surface temperature (Tt) of the metallic presser and a surface temperature (T1) of the casting roll for cooling satisfies the formula (1) and a contact length Q satisfies the following formula (2) 0.5° C.?T1?Tt?20° C.??(1) 0.1 cm?Q?8 cm??(2) The method provides a thermoplastic film having high thickness accuracy and surface smoothness.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include composite articles having specific optical properties. In one embodiment of this invention, a composite comprises high and low refractive index light transmitting material and surface relief features. In further embodiments, the composite comprises volumetric dispersed phase domains that may be asymmetric in shape. In one embodiment of this invention, the composite is an optical film providing light collimating features along two orthogonal planes perpendicular to the surface of the film. In another embodiment, the composite has improved optical, thermal, mechanical, or environmental properties. In further embodiments of this invention, the composite is manufactured by optically coupling or extruding two or more light transmitting materials, and forming inverted light collimating surface relief features or light collimating surface relief features.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical film and method of manufacturing the same. The optical film of the present invention includes an acrylic resin and a core-shell type graft copolymer wherein the core includes a conjugate diene rubber, and the shell includes an acrylic monomer, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and a maleimide monomer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light guide plate containing a plurality of light-guiding micro structures comprises the steps of: preparing a mold that has a concave hole formed by a plurality of light-guiding micro structures; pouring a mixture of ultraviolet curable resins and glass microbeads into the mold; attaching a carrier onto the mixture; using a rolling tool to roll the surface of the carrier, such that the mold is filled up with the mixture uniformly, while the air among the mold, the carrier and the mixture is discharged; and finally projecting the ultraviolet light onto the ultraviolet curable resin, such that the ultraviolet curable resin can be cured at the carrier and removed from the mold, so as to form a light guide plate having a plurality of light-guiding micro structures.

Abstract: There are provided an easily producible retardation plate for forming a stereoscopic image and a stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display system produced therewith. A retardation plate for forming a stereoscopic image has a plurality of first retardation regions and a plurality of second retardation regions in the same plane. The first retardation regions have an in-plane retardation of (¼+m)? at a wavelength ?, and the second retardation regions have an in-plane retardation of (¾+n)? at a wavelength ?, wherein m and n are each 0 or a natural number, preferably m=n=0. The first and second retardation regions have slow axis directions parallel to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a polarizing film, by which, even when a wide raw film is used, it is possible to obtain a polarizing film that achieves excellent optical characteristics as well as uniformity in in-plane optical characteristics. The method includes the steps of dyeing a polymer film; stretching the dyed film; and drying the film that has undergone the dyeing and stretching steps while conveying the film with rolls. In the drying step, at least two rolls are used as the rolls and the film is dried under a condition that a ratio (R/W) of a distance (R) between the adjacent rolls to an initial width (W) of the polymer film is not less than 0.5 and not more than 4.0.