A surface mode liquid crystal device is made by forming a cell containing a mixture of a liquid crystal and a pre-polymer. An electric field is applied across the cell to arrange the liquid crystal in a predetermined surface mode state, such as the V state in the case of a pi-cell configuration. The liquid crystal is held in this state by the field while the pre-polymer is polymerized or cross-linked, for instance by ultraviolet irradiation. The electric field is then removed. The polymer stabilizes the predetermined surface mode state, for instance preventing relaxation of the V state to twist or splay state in the pi-cell configuration.