Founder of a dynasty of engravers in Augsburg, Dominicus was son of Pieter Baltens de Costere in Antwerp, emigrated as Protestant (c. 1579) and in Augsburg by 1584, working for the Fugger family. Dominicus married the widow of Bartolomeus Kilian the Elder. He worked in the service of Emperor Rudolph II in Prague and also for Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol at his Innsbruck court (1582-1593) while remaining based in Augsburg.