Slab Contrasted Besa 2 is a very bold, normal width, medium contrast, italic, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Intermedial Slab' by Blaze Type and 'FF Marselis Serif' and 'FF Meta Serif' by FontFont (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, sports, packaging, robust, retro, confident, sporty, editorial, impact, energy, retro feel, display clarity, brand voice, bracketed, softened, dynamic, compact, ink-trap-like.
A heavy, right-leaning slab serif with compact proportions and strongly bracketed serifs. Strokes show noticeable modulation, with rounded joins and subtly pinched interior corners that keep counters open at display sizes. The italic construction is assertive rather than delicate, with a forward, athletic rhythm and sturdy verticals that taper into broad slabs. Lowercase forms are tightly set with a solid x-height feel, while the numerals and capitals read as blocky and authoritative with slightly softened edges.
Best suited to headlines, titles, and short emphatic copy where the bold italic stance can do the work of attention and hierarchy. It fits posters, sports and event graphics, packaging callouts, and brand marks that want a rugged, retro-leaning voice. In editorial layouts it can act as a strong display companion for pull quotes, section openers, and standout subheads.
The overall tone is punchy and energetic, blending vintage print swagger with a modern, headline-first attitude. It suggests confidence and momentum—more “bold statement” than “quiet reading”—and carries a familiar retro editorial flavor often associated with posters, sports, and classic advertising.
The font appears designed to deliver maximum impact with a sturdy slab-serif backbone and an italicized, forward-driving posture. Its combination of strong brackets, controlled contrast, and compact shapes suggests an intention to feel both classic and energetic—optimized for display settings where personality and authority matter most.
The design’s strongest feature is its mass and rhythm: thick stems, prominent slabs, and a consistent slanted stress that produces a lively texture in lines of text. Counters remain relatively generous for such a heavy style, helping maintain legibility in short paragraphs, though the texture is dense and best suited to larger sizes or limited text runs.