Compensation for aging of an electroluminescent (EL) emitter having a luminance and a chromaticity that both correspond to the density of the current and the age of the EL emitter is performed. Different black, first and second current densities are selected based on the measured age, each corresponding to emitted light colorimetrically distinct from the light emitted at the other two current densities. Respective percentages of a selected emission time are calculated for each current density to produce a designated luminance and chromaticity. The current densities are provided to the EL emitter for the calculated respective percentages of the emission time so that the integrated light output of the EL emitter during the selected emission time is colorimetrically indistinct from the designated luminance and chromaticity, no matter the age of the EL emitter.