A panel has a flat external surface and has a curvature on an inner surface thereof. A coating having light absorption characteristics is formed on the external surface of the panel. To the top of the coating, a film which has light absorbing characteristics and contains an adhesive is adhered. The light absorption by the coating is large at the central portion of the panel and is small at the peripheral portion of the panel. The light absorption characteristics of the film is approximately uniform on the entire surface of the panel. Due to such a constitution, a color picture tube having a flat external surface, the least brightness difference and an excellent contrast can be realized.