A series of fluorene-based luminophores containing methacrylic end groups have been prepared and incorporated into uniaxially oriented liquid crystalline films by in situ photopolymerization. Various structural modifications on the 2(4-cyanophenyl)fluorene core, which include alkyl chains at the 9-position and elongation of the rigid core with one additional phenyl ring, have been investigated to generate emitters with adjusted liquid crystal compatibility, improved luminescence and dichroic properties. Polarized blue-emitting films were produced that had an acceptable photostability, and it was found that the polarization emission was better for samples with low (5%) cross-linker contents. Polarization of the luminescence was favored by the liquid crystalline properties of the luminophore. In addition, the detrimental effect of the alkyl substituent at the fluorene core on the mesomorphism and on the emission polarization can be overcome by lengthening the 7T-system. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.