A laser-based forward transfer direct writing technique was used to deposit phosphor powder screens for high-resolution display applications. With this technique, called matrix-assisted pulsed-laser evaporation direct write, dense oxide phosphor powders of Y2O3:Eu (red) and Zn2SiO4:Mn (green) were deposited on alumina and polymer substrates. All processing was performed in air at room temperature. Cathodoluminescent measurements showed that the luminous efficiency of the phosphor powders was not degraded by the deposition process. A 6×6 red and green matrix with pixel sizes of 100 μm (250 lines per inch) with a 100 μm spot size is demonstrated; however, with smaller spot sizes this technique is easily scalable to pixel sizes <10 μm (>2500 lines per inch). © 2000 American Institute of Physics.