A method of making an optical article (10,24,40,58,76) having multiple light-influencing zones (36,38,52,54,70,72) comprising: forming an alignment coating layer comprising a first alignment region and a second alignment region over at least a portion of an optical element; wherein the first alignment region and the second alignment region of the alignment coating layer are formed by: applying an alignment coating composition over at least a portion of a first major surface of the optical element; masking a second portion of the alignment coating composition with a masking component that blocks a first polarized radiation prior to exposing a first portion of the alignment coating composition to the first polarized radiation; exposing the first portion of the alignment coating composition to the first polarized radiation having a first polarizing direction to form the first alignment region of the alignment coating layer; exposing the second portion of the alignment coating composition to a second polarized radiation having a second polarizing direction that is different from the first polarizing direction to form the second alignment region of the alignment coating layer; applying at least one anisotropic material over the first alignment region and the second alignment region by an inkjet printing device; applying at least one dichroic material and/or at least one photochromic-dichroic material over at least one of the first alignment region and the second alignment region to form a first light-influencing zone over the first alignment region and a second light-influencing zone over the second alignment region; and wherein the at least one dichroic material and/or the at least one photochromic-dichroic material are applied by the inkjet printing device. forming an alignment coating layer comprising a first alignment region and a second alignment region over at least a portion of an optical element; wherein the first alignment region and the second alignment region of the alignment coating layer are formed by: applying an alignment coating composition over at least a portion of a first major surface of the optical element; masking a second portion of the alignment coating composition with a masking component that blocks a first polarized radiation prior to exposing a first portion of the alignment coating composition to the first polarized radiation; exposing the first portion of the alignment coating composition to the first polarized radiation having a first polarizing direction to form the first alignment region of the alignment coating layer; exposing the second portion of the alignment coating composition to a second polarized radiation having a second polarizing direction that is different from the first polarizing direction to form the second alignment region of the alignment coating layer; applying at least one anisotropic material over the first alignment region and the second alignment region by an inkjet printing device; applying at least one dichroic material and/or at least one photochromic-dichroic material over at least one of the first alignment region and the second alignment region to form a first light-influencing zone over the first alignment region and a second light-influencing zone over the second alignment region; and wherein the at least one dichroic material and/or the at least one photochromic-dichroic material are applied by the inkjet printing device.