A backplane optionally having stepped horizontal surfaces and optionally embedding metal interconnect structures is provided. First conductive bonding structures are formed on first stepped horizontal surfaces. First light emitting devices on a first transfer substrate are disposed on the first conductive bonding structures, and a first subset of the first light emitting devices is bonded to the first conductive bonding structures. Laser irradiation can be employed to selectively disconnect the first subset of the first light emitting devices from the first transfer substrate while a second subset of the first light emitting devices remains attached to the first transfer substrate. Additional devices on each additional transfer substrate can be bonded to additional conductive bonding structures on the backplane employing the same method provided that the additional devices are not present in positions that would overlap with pre-existing first light emitting devices or devices on the backplane at a bonding position.