Two important improvements in a new technique for measuring and mapping local heat transfer coefficients are described. The first improvement involves the use of a new encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystal which has better stability and a narrower bandwidth than the cholesteric crystals previously used. The second important improvement is in the packaging arrangement. In this new arrangement, useful for gas flows, the liquid crystal is applied directly on the surface of an electrically conducting gold coating used as an electric heater, and is essentially in direct contact with the fluid. The encapsulated liquid crystal used in this study was applied directly to the gold surface without affecting the electrical characteristics of the gold coating. This new packaging arrangement has two advantages. First, no correction for the temperature drop across the plastic substrate is required. Second, a significant increase in the maximum detectable frequency is predicted.