Slab Square Rula 13 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Gimbal Egyptian' by AVP, 'FF DIN Slab' by FontFont, 'Front Page' and 'Front Page Pro' by Jonahfonts, 'Rude Slab ExtraCondensed' by Monotype, 'LFT Etica Sheriff' by TypeTogether, and 'Palo Slab' by TypeUnion (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, signage, packaging, logos, western, circus, vintage, playful, poster, attention, nostalgia, bold branding, heritage, blocky, chunky, bracketed, ink-trap, sturdy.
A heavy, compact slab serif with chunky, squared-off strokes and robust slab terminals. The letterforms show slightly rounded outer corners and subtle notch-like cut-ins where strokes meet (most visible at joins and in inner corners), giving a carved, ink-trap-like texture. Counters are relatively small and openings are tight, producing strong dark color and a dense rhythm. Capitals are tall and authoritative, while the lowercase keeps a straightforward, workmanlike structure with sturdy stems and compact bowls; numerals follow the same solid, block-built construction.
Best suited to display settings where strong presence is needed: posters, bold headlines, labels and packaging, and storefront or event signage. It also works well for wordmarks that want a sturdy, vintage-inflected slab serif voice, especially at medium-to-large sizes where the carved details can be appreciated.
The overall tone feels old-style and performative—evoking classic Western posters, circus bills, and heritage signage. Its dense weight and chiseled detailing add a confident, attention-grabbing character that reads as rugged, nostalgic, and a bit theatrical.
The design appears intended to modernize a classic show-poster slab serif look by combining compact proportions with squared slabs and small, deliberate cut-ins at joins. The goal seems to be maximum impact and recognizability, with details that keep the forms from feeling purely geometric or generic.
The family of shapes is highly consistent across caps, lowercase, and figures, with a repeating pattern of squared slabs and small interior notches that adds visual bite at display sizes. The narrow proportions and tight apertures increase impact, but can make long passages feel heavy and compact.