A method for providing a flat panel display comprising the steps of: providing an anode assembly containing a plurality of pixels; applying a photoresist to a surface of the anode assembly; applying a mask that defines a control frame top surface; exposing the mask to UV radiation and causing the photoresist to cross link at the exposed areas of the photoresist such that the exposed photoresist is inert and does not outgas in a vacuum; removing the unexposed areas of the photoresist to define a pedestal; forming a planarizing layer over the exposed photoresist pedestal; applying a metal layer over the planarizing layer; applying a second photoresist over the metal layer; exposing portions of the second photoresist and removing excess of the metal layer and the planarizing layer to form the metal layer only on top of the exposed photoresist pedestal; and applying nanotube emitters on the metal layer.