Almost is a typeface between gothic and roman. Based on in-depth research, it was designed by Jérôme Knebusch in 2012-2019 in five weights and two styles, Gothic and Roman, and completed in 2021 with respective italics. More than 1800 glyphs are present in each of the styles. They can be endlessly combined, starting either from roman or gothic ground, without falling in a strong, broken script nor becoming a ‘pure’ roman design. Above, uncialesque and bizarre (Byzantine) letterforms and a full set of initials complete the fonts. They can be activated through stylistic features, and offer more possibilitites of gothic-roman hybridisations. Almost takes its inspiration in the 15th century, in the period of the 1460s and 70s with German Gotico-Antiqua typefaces like the ‘Durandus’ of Fust & Schöffer, the first type to present a humanistic tendency, possibly based on the hand of Petrarch. A few years later Sweynheim & Pannartz use in Subiaco a type which some consider to be the first roman although gothic influences remain clearly visible. Roman type was finally defined in 1469-70 in Venice by the ‘de Spira' brothers and Nicolas Jenson. But roman did not precipitate the death of gothic forms, mixtures of gothic and roman were tried out and the two co-existed for some time. Almost is a hommage to these types, which represent a unique, transitory moment in history of typography.

Almost Display was added to the collection in 2024, intended to headlines and shorter texts in bigger sizes. It carefully adapts its proportions to save horizontal space, and sharper terminals look more refined, especially in bolder weights. Almost Display otherwise mirrors the various expressive possibilities of Almost, and might be the preferred choice in point sizes above twenty.

The fonts contain an extended Latin glyph set covering many languages and advanced OpenType features: initials (with separation in two layers), small capitals, several figure ranges (lining, old style, small caps, tabular and proportional), superiors & inferiors, fractions, case sensitive punctuation for capitals and small capitals, ligatures and many alternates. Most of them share identical metrics, so that texts lenghts do not change when glyphs are replaced. All possible combinations between the glyphs have been carefully kerned. The two fonts, Roman & Gothic, contain the same glyph set and can be mixed individually through OpenType stylistic sets. More styles (Uncialesque, Bizarre, Initials) are activable as pre-sets. Look up the PDF specimen below for detailed information. Trial fonts on demand.

Almost was awarded in 2020 by the Type Directors Club, New York City, and chosen as a 2019 favourite by Typographica.