The present invention provides an electroluminescent device (10) having a dark layer (36) for reducing at least a portion of ambient light incident on the display. In one bottom emitting device embodiment, the dark layer (36) is placed between the emitting layer (28) and a reflective rear cathode (38). The dark layer comprises a partially reflective layer (36a), an absorptive-transmissive layer (36b), and a reflective layer (36c).
