Distressed Fife 7 is a regular weight, narrow, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, labels, signage, vintage, gritty, rugged, industrial, noir, aged print, rugged utility, period tone, textured display, slab serif, typewriter, roughened, inked, imperfect.
A condensed slab-serif design with sturdy stems, compact proportions, and a deliberately roughened finish. The letterforms feel typewriter- and wood-type-adjacent, built from simple geometry with slightly bracketed, squared serifs and firm terminals. Edges show consistent distressing—nicks, worn corners, and uneven ink spread—giving strokes a textured, printed look while keeping counters fairly open for readability. Spacing appears tight and pragmatic, and the overall rhythm is steady despite the surface irregularities.
Best suited to display typography where the distressed texture can be appreciated: posters, album/film titles, brand marks, packaging, labels, and thematic signage. It can also work for short subheads or pull quotes when a vintage, rough-printed tone is desired, but long body copy may feel visually busy as the texture accumulates.
The texture conveys age, wear, and utilitarian authenticity, suggesting stamped labels, old shop signage, and well-used printing forms. It reads as bold and matter-of-fact, with a gritty, handmade-industrial character that leans cinematic and slightly ominous in darker settings.
The design appears intended to evoke worn letterpress or typewriter output—solid, condensed slabs paired with controlled imperfections to simulate aged ink and physical wear. It aims to deliver a reliable, readable silhouette while adding atmosphere through consistent distressing.
Distressing is present across caps, lowercase, and numerals in a consistent pattern, creating a cohesive “worn print” voice rather than random distortion. The numerals are clear and sturdy, and the sample text shows the font holding together well at display sizes where the texture becomes a defining feature.