Abstract: An electroluminescent device and corresponding methods for making the same are described. A thin film structure is disposed on top of a ceramic substrate having electrodes embedded therein. Ceramic material of high dielectric constant separates the internal electrodes from the thin-film structure including a transparent electrode layer, a luminescent layer, and at least one insulating layer. The ceramic material may be divided into first and second segments of different dielectric constant, and the internal electrodes may also be divided into separate segments. The manufacturing process includes the preparation of a ceramic green sheet having a dielectric constant greater than 200, printing electrodes on this sheet, and laminating and sintering this sheet together with other green sheets to form a monolithic member over which a further electroluminescent layer and transparent electrodes can be disposed.