We have measured the electronic transitions of a lead phthalocyanine thin film by means of optical absorption and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy in the range from 1 to 20 eV We compare the optical absorption spectrum with the loss spectra and discuss their similarity. We identify the loss structures and we report a new absorption band at 10 eV. In addition we report that the inelastic electron scattering from the lower energy pi-->pi* transition and from the C-H stretching vibrational mode show energy-dependent structure, characteristic of resonance scattering via temporary negative ion states. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.