AbstractPolymethacrylates with laterally attached azobenzenes were prepared to cause molecular reorientation of this chromophore in their thin films by linearly polarized irradiation with an exposure energy of less than ca. 100 mJ/cm2. A homogeneous alignment was induced by assembling a nematic liquid crystal cell using a substrate plate covered with the photoirradiated films. The alignment direction of the cell was controlled by changing the electric vector of the actinic light.