Examples include a cylinder for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate. In the region of the outer circumference of the cylinder, magnetic elements are arranged in n rows extending axially and in m columns extending circumferentially. At least two magnetic elements are provided one behind the other in the same column, mounted as a group at a shared carrier element and can be varied with respect to their axial position at the cylinder, collectively and independently of the magnetic elements of an adjoining column. The at least two magnetic elements of the same column are arranged at respective magnetic element carriers that can be positioned at the shared carrier element independently of one another in the circumferential direction and/or can be detached from the carrier element and/or are adjustable in the axial direction within an adjustment range.