AN IMPROVED RELIEF PHASE HOLOGRAM IS DESCRIBED WHICH MINIMIZES SIGANL DISTORTION UPON PLAYBACK. THE HOLOGRAM COMPRISES A HOLOGRAPHIC RELIEF PATTERN EMBOSSED ON A POLYMERIC SUBSTRATE SUCH AS A VINYL TAPE AND A COATING ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUBSTRATE DIRECTLY OVER THE RELIEF PATTERN. THE COATING MUST HAVE A THICKNESS OF SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM CONTOUR DEPTH OF THE RELIEF PATTERN AND MUST BE OF A MATERIAL HAVING AN INDEX OF REFRACTION WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE SUBSTRATE.