Slab Square Afren 9 is a regular weight, very narrow, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial text, newspaper, book typography, headlines, captions, editorial, vintage, bookish, formal, authoritative, space saving, text clarity, editorial tone, print tradition, condensed, slab serif, bracketless, square terminals, crisp serifs.
A condensed slab-serif with tall proportions and tight sidebearings, giving lines a compact, vertical rhythm. Strokes show moderate contrast with firm, flat-ended slabs that read as square and largely unbracketed, producing a crisp, clipped finish at stems and cross-strokes. Curves are clean and controlled, with narrow bowls and counters that stay open enough for text use, while the overall spacing and proportions favor economy and density. Numerals and capitals follow the same narrow, upright architecture for consistent color in continuous setting.
Well-suited to space-efficient editorial settings such as newspapers, magazines, and book interiors where a condensed texture is desirable. It also works effectively for headlines, subheads, and captions that need a firm, structured tone without moving into heavy display styling.
The font projects an editorial, old-style seriousness with a slightly vintage, print-derived character. Its condensed build and decisive slabs add a sense of authority and restraint, suggesting newspaper and book typography rather than expressive display.
Likely designed to provide a compact, highly readable slab-serif voice for dense typography, balancing a traditional print feel with a clean, square-terminal construction. The emphasis appears to be on economy of width and consistent, authoritative texture across text and numerals.
In the sample text, the condensed width creates strong column-like texture and a noticeable vertical cadence, especially in mixed-case passages. The square-ended serifs and terminals keep the silhouette sharp and structured, which can feel punchy at larger sizes and tightly set text.