An ARC evaporator comprising: - a cathode assembly comprising a cooling plate, a target as cathode element, preferably a disc-shaped target or a rectangular target, the target having a thickness in the cross direction, a front surface disposed to be evaporated and a back surface, the front surface being parallel to the back surface, these both surfaces being separated one of each other by the thickness of the target, the cathode assembly having a total height in the transversal direction and borders delimiting the total amplitude in any longitudinal direction, the target defining a central region of the cathode assembly in the longitudinal direction, with a peripherical region of the cathode assembly extending beyond the target in the longitudinal direction within the total amplitude of the cathode assembly, - an electrode arranged for enabling that an arc between the electrode and the front surface of the target can be established for causing evaporation of at least part of the front surface of the target, and - a magnetic guidance system placed in front of the back surface of the target comprising means for generating one or more magnetic fields resulting in a total magnetic field comprising magnetic field lines which extend through the cross section of the target and along the space in front of the front surface of the target for guiding a cathode spot that results from the contact of an arc to the target, when the arc is established between the electrode and the front surface of the target, characterized in that: the magnetic guidance system in the ARC source comprises means placed in a central region for generating at least one magnetic field and means in a peripherical region for generating at least one further magnetic field, wherein the magnetic fields generated in this manner result in a total magnetic field for guiding the arc and controlling the cathode spot path at the front surface of the target, wherein the means placed in the central region comprises one electromagnetic coil for generating a magnetic field and the means placed in the peripherical region comprises two electromagnetic coils (C1, C2) for generating two further magnetic fields. - a cathode assembly comprising a cooling plate, a target as cathode element, preferably a disc-shaped target or a rectangular target, the target having a thickness in the cross direction, a front surface disposed to be evaporated and a back surface, the front surface being parallel to the back surface, these both surfaces being separated one of each other by the thickness of the target, the cathode assembly having a total height in the transversal direction and borders delimiting the total amplitude in any longitudinal direction, the target defining a central region of the cathode assembly in the longitudinal direction, with a peripherical region of the cathode assembly extending beyond the target in the longitudinal direction within the total amplitude of the cathode assembly, - an electrode arranged for enabling that an arc between the electrode and the front surface of the target can be established for causing evaporation of at least part of the front surface of the target, and - a magnetic guidance system placed in front of the back surface of the target comprising means for generating one or more magnetic fields resulting in a total magnetic field comprising magnetic field lines which extend through the cross section of the target and along the space in front of the front surface of the target for guiding a cathode spot that results from the contact of an arc to the target, when the arc is established between the electrode and the front surface of the target,