A method of forming carbon nanotube emitters and a method of manufacturing an FED using such carbon nanotube emitters includes: forming a carbon nanotube layer on a substrate on which a plurality of electrodes are formed, coating a photoresist on the carbon nanotube layer, patterning the photoresist such that the photoresist only remains above the electrodes, removing an exposed portion of the carbon nanotube layer by etching using the patterned photoresist as a etch mask, and removing the photoresist pattern and forming the carbon nanotube emitters on the electrodes.