In order to create a method for the preparation of single pattern optical elements and to investigate the effects of a reactive liquid crystalline monomer on the formation of light gratings, holographic grating samples were fabricated using various high refractive index dopants. A liquid crystalline monomer was synthesized and mixed with multifunctional monomers and photoinitiators for the investigation. It was found that patterns with differently shaped unit cells can be inscribed by simply rotating the photopolymer plate at different angles. In contrast to traditional mask lithography, the laser grating materials fabricated in this investigation are expected to be used to create a single pattern on a polymer matrix for optical elements. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.