A display having polymer dispersed liquid crystals, which display comprises a transparent substrate; a layer comprising polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal disposed over the substrate, which layer has more than one stable optical state in the absence of an electrical field. The display further comprises a first transparent conductor disposed between the state changing layer and the transparent support, a second conductor on the other side of the state changing layer so that when a field is applied between the first and second conductors, the liquid crystals change state. It has been found advantageous to have a non-conductive, non-field spreading dark layer of sub-micron pigments in a binder for providing an improved light absorbing function, which dark layer is disposed between the layer of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal and the second conductor.