Master Cross-Hatching
Up to 1,200 strokes per square inch, laid at true press density for a full tonal range from pale wash to deep shadow.
Nimbus Press Works · Fine Line Studio
Line work worthy of the plate.
Commission-grade engravings and cross-hatched illustration — every stroke placed with intent, every edition numbered by hand.
The Craft
Engraving, not illustration software
Three centuries of print technique, executed at plate density for pages that reward a second look.
Heritage Techniques
Etching, woodcut, and copperplate methods refined over four centuries — no filters, no shortcuts, no auto-tracing.
Certified Proofs
Every edition ships with a numbered certificate, stroke-density map, and archival documentation for your records.
From Brief to Plate
Three passes under the press
Brief the Plate
Send your subject and desired line weight. We return a composition sketch within two working days.
Approve the Proof
Review a full-scale proof with hatching density maps, then request revisions while the plate is soft.
Receive the Edition
The finished engraving arrives print-ready, in plate and vector line formats, with its certificate sealed.
From the Press Room
Word from our commissioners
The hatching density alone is worth the fee — our annual report has never looked this considered in print.
M. Halloway · Art Director, Ledger & Quarto
Nimbus delivered a plate that survived four rounds of reduction without losing a single line. Remarkable discipline.
R. Okafor · Publisher, The Folio Press
Edition Rates
Rates for every press run
Apprentice
$290
per plate
- Single engraved plate
- One proof revision
- Plate + vector delivery
Master Print
$740
per edition
- Three coordinated plates
- Density maps included
- Two proof revisions
- Numbered certificate
Atelier
Custom
by consultation
- Dedicated engraver
- On-site press proofing
- Archival plate storage
Common Enquiries
Before you commission
What do I receive with a finished plate?
A print-ready engraved file at full press resolution, a vector line master, and a numbered certificate of edition. Larger commissions also include the physical proof sheet.
How long does a commission take?
A single plate typically runs ten working days from approved brief to delivered edition. Multi-plate suites are scheduled sequentially so stroke density stays consistent across the set.
Can you match a historical engraving style?
Yes. Send reference plates — Bewick, Dürer, or banknote guilloche — and we will match stroke direction, line weight, and cross-hatch density within one proof round.
Final Proof Call
Reserve your place on the press.
Edition slots open quarterly and fill in order of request. Leave your address and we will send the commission brief.