Serif Contrasted Onsa 8 is a bold, wide, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Augustea' by Berthold, 'Fulmar' by CAST, 'ITC Century' by ITC, 'Ysobel' by Monotype, and 'Mencken Std' by Typofonderie (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, editorial, book covers, posters, branding, formal, authoritative, literary, classic, dramatic contrast, classic tone, strong presence, refined detail, vertical stress, sharp serifs, hairline joins, crisp edges, stately.
A high-contrast serif with a strong vertical axis and pronounced thick–thin modulation. Serifs are sharp and finely tapered, with minimal bracketing, giving a crisp, engraved feel at the terminals. Counters are relatively open for the weight, and the rounded letters show clear stress, while the overall rhythm stays steady and upright across capitals, lowercase, and numerals. The heavy main strokes paired with hairline connections create a dramatic texture, especially in text sizes and larger settings.
Best suited to headlines, magazine/editorial layouts, book covers, and high-impact posters where dramatic contrast and sharp serifs can be appreciated. It can also support branding applications that want a classic, authoritative voice, particularly in larger sizes where the fine details remain clear.
The font projects a traditional, editorial tone—confident, composed, and slightly imposing. Its sharp detailing and emphatic contrast evoke printed book typography and classic display titling, lending text a sense of formality and seriousness.
Likely designed to deliver a classic contrasted serif look with heightened drama: heavy verticals, delicate hairlines, and crisp serifs that read as refined and traditional while still feeling bold and attention-grabbing in display use.
In the sample text, the dense black strokes produce a strong typographic color, with punctuation and numerals matching the same crisp, high-contrast treatment. The lowercase shows sturdy, weighty forms with fine entry/exit strokes, which heightens the sense of refinement while keeping the overall presence bold on the page.