A method is provided for forming a strippable or dissolvable release coating on the surface of substrate such as a flexible polymeric film or web. The release coating is subsequently coated with a layer of material and then dissolved in a solvent to release the layer. The release coating is made from a copolymer of methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate or from a homopolymer of polyacrylic acid. Release coatings made of methylmethacrylate and ethylacrylate copolymers having glass transition temperatures of about 60.degree. C. or greater, or made of a ipolyacrylic acid homopolymer having a glass transition temperature of about 100.degree. C. or higher, are also provided. The release coatings provide excellent supporting substrates for the formation of an overcoated metallized layer, are readily strippable in acetone, and can be formed during an in-line process which begins with drawing a flexible film or web from a molten polymeric material. Methods are also provided for making metallized layers used in the production of optically variable flakes and devices.