Dichroic glass is multiple ultra-thin layers of transparent oxides of such metals as titanium, platinum, gold, or silica are vaporised by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapor then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. A protective layer of quartz crystal is sometimes added.The finished glass can have as many as 30 to 50 layers of these materials, yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 30 to 35 millionths of an inch. The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone and, by careful control of thickness, different colors may be obtained.

The total light that hits the dichroic layer equals the wavelengths reflected plus the wavelengths passing through the dichroic layer.