Tunable color switch using split-ring metamaterial

•SRMs are SRR floating on a mirror layer (SRM-1) and on a complementary SRR (SRM-2).•SRM-1 exhibits a distinct on/off function used in TCS application.•SRM-2 exhibits a polarization switching characteristic.•The linearities are 0.99993 and 0.99996 for SRM-1 at TE and TM modes, respectively.•The linearities are 0.99979 and 0.99968 for SRM-2 at TE and TM modes, respectively.