Serif Normal Synem 4 is a regular weight, normal width, high contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial design, book typography, magazines, headlines, pull quotes, classic, editorial, literary, refined, formal, text italic, elegant emphasis, editorial voice, classic readability, bracketed serifs, calligraphic, sharply tapered, lively rhythm, diagonal stress.
A high-contrast italic serif with sharply tapered terminals and small, bracketed serifs. The strokes show a clear diagonal stress and an energetic rightward slant, with crisp joins and relatively tight apertures in many letters. Uppercase forms are narrow and elegant, with pointed diagonals in A, V, W, X, and Y, while round letters like O and Q keep a smooth, polished contour. The lowercase has a compact, text-like build with a two-storey a and g, a pronounced slanted entry in many stems, and a long, sweeping f and j that emphasize the italic flow; numerals follow the same calligraphic contrast and angled axis.
Well suited for editorial settings where italics play a prominent role, such as magazine features, book typography, and refined brand communications. It can serve effectively for headings, pull quotes, introductions, and emphasized passages where a classic italic texture and crisp contrast help create hierarchy.
The overall tone is traditional and cultivated, suggesting bookish refinement and an editorial voice. Its italic forms feel expressive without becoming decorative, projecting a confident, slightly dramatic emphasis suitable for sophisticated typography.
The design appears intended as a conventional, text-oriented italic with heightened contrast and a controlled, calligraphic slant, balancing tradition with enough sharpness to stand out in modern editorial layouts.
The sample text shows strong word-shape and a consistent slanted rhythm, with contrast that reads crisply at display sizes. Descenders are notably active (especially in g, j, p, q, y), adding movement and a distinctive texture across lines.