Serif Other Rafe 3 is a regular weight, narrow, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, editorial, book covers, posters, branding, elegant, whimsical, bookish, classic, add character, classic display, editorial tone, vintage flair, flared serifs, teardrop terminals, calligraphic, crisp, stately.
A high-contrast serif with slender hairlines and weighty, tapered verticals that often swell into teardrop-like terminals. Serifs feel lightly bracketed and frequently flare into soft, bulbous ends rather than sharp slabs, giving stems a sculpted, ink-trap-free look. Curves are smooth and controlled, with narrow apertures and a compact, vertical rhythm; joins and terminals show a subtle calligraphic influence, especially in the tails and diagonals. Numerals and capitals maintain the same refined contrast, with distinctive, decorative finish details that add texture without becoming ornate.
Well-suited to display roles such as headlines, editorial titles, pull quotes, and book or magazine covers where its contrast and terminal detailing can be appreciated. It can also work for boutique branding and packaging that wants a classic serif feel with a distinctive twist, while longer body text would benefit from comfortable sizing and spacing to preserve the fine hairlines.
The overall tone is refined and literary, with a faintly playful, storybook edge created by the droplet terminals and gentle swelling strokes. It reads as classic and composed at first glance, but the quirky finishing shapes add personality that feels vintage and slightly eccentric rather than strictly formal.
The design appears intended to reinterpret a traditional high-contrast serif through distinctive teardrop terminals and subtly calligraphic shaping, creating a voice that feels simultaneously classical and characterful. It prioritizes elegant vertical rhythm and recognizable silhouettes for attention-grabbing typography.
The typeface’s personality comes primarily from its terminal treatment: many strokes end in rounded, tapered drops that act like punctuation throughout words. This creates a consistent sparkle in headings and short lines, while the tight proportions and delicate hairlines suggest careful use at sizes where the contrast can hold up.