The authors report excellent electron field emission characteristics from acid-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes printed onto paper substrates and subjected to a postdeposition laser treatment. A distinct change in the morphology of the nanotube layer was observed after laser irradiation, and threshold fields improved from 4.8 V/mu m before laser irradiation to 2.1 V/mu m after laser irradiation. This study shows how field emission cathodes can be fabricated in a straightforward manner on cheap, flexible substrates and that the field emission characteristics can be tailored readily via postdeposition laser treatment.