An electroluminescent (EL) device having an LED formed on a substrate with at least two electrodes formed over the substrate, and an EL unit formed between the electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is transparent. At least one of the electrodes is patterned to define independently controllable light-emitting areas. A cover is formed over the LED. The cover or substrate is transparent. A light-scattering layer is formed between the cover and substrate for scattering light. A low-index element, having an optical index lower than other optical indices, is formed between the scattering layer and the transparent cover or substrate. Additionally, a contrast-enhancement layer includes alternating light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions formed in the layer located between the light-scattering layer and the transparent substrate or cover through which light is emitted, wherein the light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions are located in each light-emitting area.