Serif Contrasted Ipso 12 is a regular weight, normal width, very high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, editorial, magazines, book titles, luxury branding, elegant, formal, dramatic, refined, editorial polish, luxury tone, display impact, classic refinement, hairline serifs, vertical stress, crisp joins, sculpted terminals, ball terminals.
A high-contrast serif with strong thick–thin modulation and a pronounced vertical stress. Stems are sturdy while connecting strokes and serifs drop to very fine hairlines, giving the design a crisp, engraved feel. Serifs are sharp and delicate with minimal bracketing, and many letters show tapered strokes and sculpted, sometimes ball-like terminals (notably in forms like J, a, g, y, and several numerals). Proportions are fairly classical with moderate widths, a normal x-height, and clear, spacious counters that help keep the sharp contrast from feeling cramped.
Best suited to headlines, pull quotes, magazine typography, and book or album titling where high contrast can be appreciated. It also fits luxury-leaning branding and packaging that benefits from a refined, classical voice, especially in larger sizes and high-quality print or high-resolution digital settings.
The overall tone is poised and high-end, projecting sophistication and a slightly theatrical sense of drama. Its razor-thin details and bright contrast read as dressy and ceremonial, with a distinctly editorial, print-forward character.
The design appears intended to deliver a classic, high-fashion serif voice with dramatic contrast and precise hairlines, balancing traditional letterform structure with decorative terminal details for added character. It prioritizes elegance and impact over ruggedness, aiming for a polished, premium reading impression.
In text, the font creates a lively rhythm as hairlines sparkle against heavier verticals; this can be striking at display sizes but makes the finest strokes visually fragile at smaller sizes or on low-resolution output. Numerals follow the same contrasted logic and include distinctive details (such as a curled 2 and ball-terminal-like accents) that add personality while remaining formal.