Small two-dimensional clusters and linear nanostructures of copper and cadmium were prepared electrochemically on the stepped surface of a (533) Pt single crystal. The deposition was performed under potentiostatic conditions in a solution of 0.001 M CuSO4 or 0.005 M CdSO4 in H2SO4 in the potential range of under potential deposition (UPD). The surface was examined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for quantification of the deposited amount. Grazing incidence X-ray absorption fine structure (GIXAFS) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) were used for determination of the adsorbate structure. The X-ray absorption and X-ray diffraction experiments were performed in-situ within the electrolyte at X-ray beam lines at HASYlab (DESY, Hamburg). Combining the results of the different methods, it was possible to reveal the structures of the metal adsorbates at several characteristic potentials in the UPD range.