Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a method for creating desirable pretilt angle by means of topography of the substrates, such as a surface that is sloped with respect to the surface of the electrodes. In combination with a low pretilt but highly photo-stable alignment layer, which may be very resistant to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, a high pretilt and photo-stable alignment structure is generated, by essentially combining two incompatible technical approaches. The ever more stringent requirements for projection displays are met. The methods for producing such sloped surfaces and the considerations related to design of the sloped surfaces are disclosed.