An oblique angle deposition is used to provide an A-plate optical retarder having at least one dense, form-birefringent layer. According to one embodiment, the dense, form-birefringent layer(s) are deposited as part of an FBAR stack to provide an all-dielectric full-function A/−C-plate trim retarder for LCD birefringence compensation. Advantageously, the dense structure of the full-function A/−C-plate trim retarder offers high durability and/or stability, thus making it well suited for providing polarization compensation in high light flux polarization-based projection systems.