We present a method of manufacturing carbon nanotube (CNT) field emitters using anodic-alumina templates and Ni-CNT composite plating. Using the anodized aluminum sheet as a substrate affects a reduction of field deformation near the film surface during the electroplating. This improves the emission uniformity considerably and also enhances the emission-site density by nearly an order of magnitude compared to the emitter prepared on a plain Cu plate. The emission characteristics are discussed in terms of the surface morphology and the interlayer resistance. (c) 2005 American Vacuum Society.