A laser ablation cluster generator, using low energy clusters beam deposition (LECBD), has been developed for synthesis of Cu and Co clusters. These materials have been chosen in order to compare the self-assembling mechanisms of diamagnetic and ferromagnetic clusters on a surface. Aggregates are deposited on silicon substrates under high vacuum. The distributions in size of the Cu and Co clusters have been investigated, in both cases, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) pointing out circular shapes of approximately 8 nm in diameter. Then, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images are achieved on Co cluster layers and compared with images given by a Co continuous film deposited using conventional pulsed laser deposition. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.