Slab Contrasted Piho 4 is a very bold, normal width, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Archer' by Hoefler & Co., 'Calanda' and 'Shandon Slab' by Hoftype, 'Newslab' and 'Prêt-à-porter' by Latinotype, and 'Paul Slab' and 'Paul Slab Soft' by artill (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, packaging, signage, industrial, confident, retro, sturdy, friendly, impact, sturdiness, display, heritage, blocky, bracketed, heavy, compact, robust.
A heavy, bracketed slab serif with thick stems and broad, squared serifs that read as integrated blocks rather than delicate terminals. Curves are generously rounded and counters are relatively open for the weight, while joins and shoulders stay compact to keep a dense, poster-like texture. The lowercase shows a single-storey “a” and a simple, sturdy construction throughout, with short ascenders/descenders and consistent, assertive serifs on key letters. Numerals are bold and stable, with rounded forms on 0/6/8/9 and a straightforward, vertical emphasis across the set.
Best suited to headlines, posters, and branding where a bold, sturdy voice is needed. It works well on packaging and labels, editorial display, and signage that benefits from high impact and a classic slab-serif imprint.
The overall tone is bold and workmanlike, combining a vintage slab-serif presence with a pragmatic, no-nonsense solidity. It feels dependable and grounded, with a slightly nostalgic, print-forward character that still reads as approachable at display sizes.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum presence with a traditional slab-serif structure—prioritizing strong silhouettes, stable serifs, and legible counters at large sizes. Its forms suggest a display workhorse for bold typographic statements in print and branding contexts.
The rhythm is strong and even, producing a dark color and pronounced word shapes; the chunky serifs and tight interior detailing make it most compelling where impact matters more than airy refinement. Rounded punctuation dots and the broad slabs help maintain clarity in mixed-case settings, though the weight naturally pushes it toward headline use.