An electrowetting display comprising: a hydrophobic layer ; a grid of pixel walls formed from a photoresist layer adhered to the hydrophobic layer, by using a masking pattern, wherein the pixel walls define field pixels and border pixels , wherein each of the field pixels and the border pixels are at least partially bounded by the pixel walls, and wherein a portion of the pixel walls adhered to the hydrophobic layer includes a stress release feature configured to reduce an impact of shear stress between the pixel walls and the hydrophobic layer on positions of the field pixels and the border pixels, the stress release feature comprising: i) the portion of the pixel walls less rigid than another portion of the pixel walls; ii) the portion of the pixel walls thinner than another portion of the pixel walls; iii) a hole or void in the portion of the pixel walls; iv) the portion of the pixel walls substantially non-linear; v) the portion of the pixel walls deformable to straighten at least other portions of the pixel walls in response to the shear stress; or vi) the portion of the pixel walls configured to bend or rotate, in response to the shear stress, to reduce the impact of the shear stress, wherein the stress release feature is formed by underexposing the photoresist layer at respective portions of a masking pattern or by using a masking pattern that includes the stress release feature in the masking pattern; an oil film overlying the hydrophobic layer, wherein the oil film is partitioned by the pixel walls; and an electrolyte overlying the oil film and pixel walls of the grid of pixel walls. a hydrophobic layer ; a grid of pixel walls formed from a photoresist layer adhered to the hydrophobic layer, by using a masking pattern, wherein the pixel walls define field pixels and border pixels , wherein each of the field pixels and the border pixels are at least partially bounded by the pixel walls, and wherein a portion of the pixel walls adhered to the hydrophobic layer includes a stress release feature configured to reduce an impact of shear stress between the pixel walls and the hydrophobic layer on positions of the field pixels and the border pixels, the stress release feature comprising: i) the portion of the pixel walls less rigid than another portion of the pixel walls; ii) the portion of the pixel walls thinner than another portion of the pixel walls; iii) a hole or void in the portion of the pixel walls; iv) the portion of the pixel walls substantially non-linear; v) the portion of the pixel walls deformable to straighten at least other portions of the pixel walls in response to the shear stress; or vi) the portion of the pixel walls configured to bend or rotate, in response to the shear stress, to reduce the impact of the shear stress, i) the portion of the pixel walls less rigid than another portion of the pixel walls; ii) the portion of the pixel walls thinner than another portion of the pixel walls; iii) a hole or void in the portion of the pixel walls; iv) the portion of the pixel walls substantially non-linear; v) the portion of the pixel walls deformable to straighten at least other portions of the pixel walls in response to the shear stress; or vi) the portion of the pixel walls configured to bend or rotate, in response to the shear stress, to reduce the impact of the shear stress, an oil film overlying the hydrophobic layer, wherein the oil film is partitioned by the pixel walls; and an electrolyte overlying the oil film and pixel walls of the grid of pixel walls. <EOS>