An electroluminescent device having an opposing EL-segment pair, including a first EL-segment that produces light in response to a first through-device current having a first transparent electrode connection and a first reflective electrode connection; a second EL-segment that produces light in response to a second through-device current, and having a second transparent electrode connection and a second reflective electrode connection and being disposed adjacent to and spaced from the first EL-segment such that the first transparent electrode connection is on the opposite edge as the second transparent electrode connection and the direction of the first transparent electrode current is parallel but opposite to the direction of the second transparent electrode current; and the first and second EL-segments are connected to a common power source such that the two EL-segments can be simultaneously forward biased.