Two types of nanoscale field emitter arrays have been self-assembled using either flexible alumina templates containing hexagonal close packed pores that are 50 nm wide and 500 nm long or nanoporous Si templates. The first type is an array of gold "nanopinetrees" obtained by e-beam evaporation of a few nanometers of gold on bare alumina templates. The second type is a nickel "nanoblade" array formed by e-beam evaporation of a few nanometers of nickel on nanoporous Si templates. The field emission characteristics of both mesoscopic structures were measured using a scanning field emission microscope, and results were analyzed in terms of the cathode material emission. This synthetic approach for producing nanoscale field emitters could lead to a versatile and inexpensive technology for synthesizing flexible arrays of nanoscale cold cathode emitters. (c) 2008 American Vacuum Society.