Abstract: An electroluminescent device (1) has a relief pattern (17) comprising overhanging sections (13) for patterning an electrode layer (11) of the device (1). In order to prevent the take up and transport of fluid, from which a functional layer (7, 9) is obtainable, along the capillary channels (23) formed by the overhanging sections (13), the relief pattern (17) comprises accompanying sections (15) which are positioned at distance of the overhanging sections (13) and between the sections (13) and the electroluminescent areas (21) comprising the functional layers (7,9). A method of manufacturing the EL device (1) comprises depositing the functional layer or layers (7, 9) by means of a wet deposition method such as inkjet printing.