A variable transmittance optical filter comprising: a) a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system pattern disposed thereon, the SC electrode system made of transparent electrically conductive material and comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner on the first substantially transparent substrate, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode , b) a second layer proximate to the first layer and disposed on each electrically separate electrode, the second layer comprising a transition material comprising a compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic, and that darkens in response to a non-electrical stimulus and lightens in response to application of an electric voltage, the transition material further comprising a component in which the compound is soluble such that the compound is interspersed throughout the transition material; and c) an electrical connection system for electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode of each pair comprise primary finger-like structures, wherein the primary finger-like structures of the first electrode are interdigitated with the primary finger-like structures of the second electrode, wherein the primary finger-like structures comprise one or more secondary finger-like structures, and wherein the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the primary finger-like structures of one of the electrodes are interdigitated with the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the primary finger-like structures of the other electrode. a) a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system pattern disposed thereon, the SC electrode system made of transparent electrically conductive material and comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner on the first substantially transparent substrate, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode , b) a second layer proximate to the first layer and disposed on each electrically separate electrode, the second layer comprising a transition material comprising a compound that is both photochromic and electrochromic, and that darkens in response to a non-electrical stimulus and lightens in response to application of an electric voltage, the transition material further comprising a component in which the compound is soluble such that the compound is interspersed throughout the transition material; and c) an electrical connection system for electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode of each pair comprise primary finger-like structures, wherein the primary finger-like structures of the first electrode are interdigitated with the primary finger-like structures of the second electrode, wherein the primary finger-like structures comprise one or more secondary finger-like structures, and wherein the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the primary finger-like structures of one of the electrodes are interdigitated with the one or more secondary finger-like structures of the primary finger-like structures of the other electrode. <EOS>