The Al-Fe hydroxide system is one of a limited number of inorganic liquid crystals systems. It. is a biomimetic analoque to collagen, and has the advantage that it can be prepared with a specific size, so its self-alignment can be studied as a function, of size. It, responds to surface forces as well as magnetic fields. For a grated surface, we find that the smaller (< 300 nm) and intermediate (2-3 mum ellipsoidal plates) particles align following the contour of the surface, whereas the large particles ( > 2 mum equiaxed plates) tend to agglomerate and sit on the surface with no order at all. When we apply a magnetic field to the particles on the surface, we find that, for the smaller particles, there is a competition between the magnetic field and the surface. The top particles will align with the magnetic field. The intermediate. particles act as though they are large particles, and lend to agglometrate in the magnetic field, even in the presence of a grated surface. The large particles behave the same as in contact with the surface. The smaller particles behave like an organic liquid crystal.