A multi-touch sensing system, comprising: an optical waveguide having an index of refraction sufficient to cause light of at least one wavelength received in a predetermined direction to undergo total internal reflection within the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having first and second sides; a compliant layer having a first surface disposed adjacent to and spaced from the first side of the optical waveguide, wherein minute areas of the compliant layer are in contact with the waveguide to maintain an air-gap; the optical waveguide being a compound component comprised of a non-compliant optical waveguide layer (36, 44) and a compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) disposed on the non-compliant optical waveguide layer (36, 44), the compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) being disposed on the first side of the optical waveguide so that the compliant layer is disposed adjacent to the compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) of the optical waveguide; the compliant layer being sufficiently deformable upon depression of the compliant layer by an object to allow portions of the first surface of the compliant layer to contact the optical waveguide, and the first surface of the compliant layer has an index of refraction sufficiently similar to the index of refraction of the optical waveguide to cause, upon the first surface of the compliant layer contacting the optical waveguide, some of the light undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide to scatter and to escape the optical waveguide; and an image sensor adapted to detect at least some of the light that escapes from the optical waveguide, wherein the image sensor is optically disposed to receive the light that escapes from the second side of the optical waveguide; characterized in that the compliant layer has a filter film layer disposed thereon for filtering light of said at least one wavelength. an optical waveguide having an index of refraction sufficient to cause light of at least one wavelength received in a predetermined direction to undergo total internal reflection within the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having first and second sides; a compliant layer having a first surface disposed adjacent to and spaced from the first side of the optical waveguide, wherein minute areas of the compliant layer are in contact with the waveguide to maintain an air-gap; the optical waveguide being a compound component comprised of a non-compliant optical waveguide layer (36, 44) and a compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) disposed on the non-compliant optical waveguide layer (36, 44), the compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) being disposed on the first side of the optical waveguide so that the compliant layer is disposed adjacent to the compliant optical waveguide layer (34, 42) of the optical waveguide; the compliant layer being sufficiently deformable upon depression of the compliant layer by an object to allow portions of the first surface of the compliant layer to contact the optical waveguide, and the first surface of the compliant layer has an index of refraction sufficiently similar to the index of refraction of the optical waveguide to cause, upon the first surface of the compliant layer contacting the optical waveguide, some of the light undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide to scatter and to escape the optical waveguide; and an image sensor adapted to detect at least some of the light that escapes from the optical waveguide, wherein the image sensor is optically disposed to receive the light that escapes from the second side of the optical waveguide; characterized in that the compliant layer has a filter film layer disposed thereon for filtering light of said at least one wavelength.