A coating system composed of the AlTiCrN film covered with diamond-like carbon (DLC)-based lubricant, deposited on a hot-work tool-steel substrate was the subject of the research. The AlTiCrN and DLC layers were deposited with a cathodic arc and the PACVD technology on the X40CrMoV5-1. A HRTEM investigation showed an amorphous character of the DLC layer. It was found that the tested AlTiCrN layer has a columnar character with fine crystallites. Based on the XRD analysis, the fcc type of the crystal structure was proposed for this layer. Combined studies including SEM, AES and ToF-SIMS confirmed the chemical composition and layered structure of the coating. The chemical distributions of the elements inside the layers and at the interfaces were analyzed with the SEM and AES methods. It was shown that an additional layer of Cr and AlTiN is present between the substrate and the AlTiCrN coating. In sliding dry-friction conditions, the friction coefficient for the investigated elements is set in the range of 0.02-0.03. The investigated coating revealed a high wear resistance. The coating demonstrated a good adhesion to the substrate. Keywords: AlTiCrN film, DLC film, TEM, SEM, AES, ToF-SIMS, chemical composition, tribological properties Predmet preiskave je bil sestavljen sistem AlTiCrN plasti, pokritih z diamantu podobnim ogljikom (DLC)-kot mazivom, ki je bil nane{en na podlago iz orodnega jekla, za delo v vro~em. AlTiCrN in DLC plasti so bile nane{ene s tehnologijo katodnega ARC in PACVD na X40CrMoV5-1. HRTEM-preiskava je pokazala amorfne zna~ilnosti DLC plasti. Ugotovljeno je bilo, da ima preiskovana plast AlTiCrN stebrasta drobna kristalna zrna. Na osnovi XRD analize je za to plast predlagana ploskovno centrirana kubi~na (fcc) kristalna zgradba. Kombinirane SEM, AES in ToF-SIMS {tudije so potrdile kemijsko sestavo in plasti v zgradbi nanosa. Razporeditev kemijskih elementov v plasteh in na stiku je bila analizirana s SEM in AES metodami. Ugotovljeno je, da je dodatna plast Cr in AlTiN prisotna med podlago in AlTiCrN nanosom. Pri pogojih suhega drsenja je bil koeficient trenja postavljen v obmo~je med 0,02-0,03. Preiskovan nanos je pokazal veliko odpornost na obrabo in dobro oprijemljivost na podlago.