We have investigated the generation of pretilt angle for a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) alignment with rubbing alignment method on polyimide surfaces using plastic substrates. It was found that monodomain alignment of NLC is obtained with rubbing alignment method on polyimide surfaces using thin plastic substrates. The NLC pretilt angles on thin plastic substrates generated higher than that on glass substrate. Also, EO characteristics of the TN-LCD with a rubbed PI surface based on polymer substrate are almost the same as that of the TN-LCD with a rubbed PI surface based on glass. However, the transmittances of the TN-LCD with a rubbed PI surface based on polymer is less than that with a rubbed PI surface based on g1ass.