Embodiments of a flexible electroluminescent (EL) device are described. An EL device includes a device stack and a flexible substrate configured to support the device stack. The device stack can include a anode and a cathode, a quantum dot (QD) film positioned between the anode and the cathode and configured to produce light having a first peak wavelength. The device stack further includes a patterned insulating layer disposed on the anode and configured to form electrically active regions in the device stack and to control emission of the light from the EL device through the electrically active regions. The EL device further includes an encapsulation layer disposed on the cathode.