Altesse is a typographic adaptation of the scripts engraved by the French copperplate masters from the 19th and 20th centuries. Free from the constraints of metal type, Altesse, designed in 5 optical sizes, allows you to rediscover the pleasure of automated calligraphy. With its thirty-eight OpenType functions and 1557 glyphs, the possibilities are infinite or almost.

Altesse references

With the arrival of copperplate engraving and printing, which gradually replaced the usual uses of calligraphy, typographic styles that imitate writing developed separately from italics. Joseph Gaspard Gillé publishes in 1808 a Recueil des divers caractères, vignettes et ornements. It was necessary to wait for the photocomposition, which prefigures the transition towards the numerical typography, to be completely freed from the metal type.

Altesse design

Altesse is not the revival of a particular reference, it is a contemporary interpretation of various nineteenth-century engraved sources. Its designs are directly influenced by the French copperplate engravings in use over the centuries.

Altesse was designed in 5 optical sizes. The 96 pt version is designed in high contrast with a small x-height while on the other side of the spectrum, the 16 pt version features a large x-height in relativement low contrast.

Schematically, the Altesse glyphs are divided as follows: two sets of capitals, two sets of numbers and lowercase glyphs, punctuation, ornaments and vignettes. The lowercase glyphs are drawn in many variations, with loops, short ascenders, begin, middle, end, individual forms, all embellished with various final endings. The various final endings, as well as ascenders and descenders add-ons can embellish automatically your design. All of this is orchestrated by OpenType features that allow for nuanced use.