Significantly improving in the contrast ratio of a visual image display using a liquid crystal layer and a fiber optic faceplate with tilted fibers. One preferred embodiment of the visual image display includes a liquid crystal layer, a first polarizer and an optical fiber faceplate with many substantially parallel fibers. Each fiber has an axis which forms an oblique angle with the normal to the front surface of the liquid crystal layer. All the oblique angles are substantially equal to a typical oblique angle. The typical oblique angle is selected along the direction that substantially maximizes the contrast ratio of the display.