An optical device includes a plastic-based film and a diffusing layer. The
diffusing layer includes inner scattering elements that selectively
scatter visible light having a wavelength range, and has pencil hardness
of more than 2H under a 500 g-load specified in ISO/DIS 15184. When the
optical device is arranged at a front side of a liquid crystal display
apparatus that displays color near 8 test colors specified in CIE 1974,
as a test color, chrominance .DELTA.u'v' of less than 0.05 is obtained
based on a chromaticity coordinate (u.sub.0', v.sub.0') of CIE1976UCS
observed in the front surface 100A1 of the liquid crystal display
apparatus and a chromaticity coordinate (u', v') observed at an
observation angle of .+-.60 degrees in horizontal and vertical directions
of a screen of the liquid crystal display apparatus when a direction
perpendicular to the screen is assumed to be 0 degrees.