Selective appearance of several laser-induced periodic surface structure patterns on a metal surface using structural colors produced by femtosecond laser pulses

► Deep and uniform ripples can be induced on stainless steel surface by scanning femtosecond laser with an optimized energy density and scanning speed. ► Vivid structural colors that span the entire visible spectrum were observed when illuminating the surface with white light. ► Different patterns without spatial overlapping or with spatial overlapping can be selectively displayed with structural color.