A retroreflective article comprising: a layer of optical elements, embedded in a bead bond layer, the optical elements comprising: transparent microspheres, said transparent microspheres being transparent over at least a portion of the visible light spectrum extending from about 400 to about 700 nm; at least one polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer; and at least one reflective layer covering at least a portion of the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer, wherein the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer comprises a multi-layer coating (221, 222, 223), wherein the multi-layer coating comprises a first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, wherein at least one of the layers (221, 222, 223) of the multi-layer coating comprises a second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof, and wherein the second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof is located between the surface of the transparent microsphere and the first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, and wherein the transparent microspheres have a diameter range of 80-120 micrometers, with at least 75% of the transparent microspheres having a diameter range of 85-105 micrometers, and a refractive index in the range of 1.50 to 2.00. transparent microspheres, said transparent microspheres being transparent over at least a portion of the visible light spectrum extending from about 400 to about 700 nm; at least one polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer; and at least one reflective layer covering at least a portion of the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer, wherein the polymeric layer covering at least the portion of the transparent microsphere embedded in the bead bond layer comprises a multi-layer coating (221, 222, 223), wherein the multi-layer coating comprises a first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, wherein at least one of the layers (221, 222, 223) of the multi-layer coating comprises a second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof, and wherein the second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof is located between the surface of the transparent microsphere and the first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, and wherein the multi-layer coating comprises a first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, wherein at least one of the layers (221, 222, 223) of the multi-layer coating comprises a second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof, and wherein the second polymeric sublayer comprising at least one additive selected from UV stabilizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, property modifiers, performance enhancers, or combinations thereof is located between the surface of the transparent microsphere and the first polymeric sublayer colored with at least one nanopigment, and