Shadow Elmu 3 is a bold, normal width, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: posters, headlines, logo, packaging, signage, retro, playful, punchy, comic, poster-like, attention, depth, decorative, branding, headline impact, outlined, inline, drop shadow, display, chunky.
A heavy display face built from thick, rounded sans forms with an open inline/outline construction and a consistent offset shadow that reads as a crisp, cut-paper layer. Strokes are substantial with smooth curves, blunt terminals, and slightly softened corners, while counters stay generous for the weight. The shadow is uniformly displaced and tightly tracked to the main forms, creating strong depth without blur. Overall proportions lean wide and sturdy, producing a steady rhythm and clear silhouettes across caps, lowercase, and figures.
Best suited to headlines and short display settings where the inline and shadow can read clearly—posters, event titles, storefront-style signage, and packaging callouts. It can also work for logotypes or badges where a bold, dimensional look is desired. For small sizes or dense paragraphs, the interior openness and shadow detail may become visually busy.
The combination of outline-plus-shadow gives a lively, retro sign-painting energy with a friendly, attention-grabbing tone. It feels upbeat and theatrical—more headline than text—suggesting classic posters, packaged goods, and playful branding. The dimensional effect adds a confident, showy presence even in short words.
The design appears aimed at delivering instant impact through a layered outline and offset shadow, mimicking dimensional lettering often seen in mid-century advertising and playful retail graphics. It prioritizes bold silhouette, legibility at display sizes, and a decorative depth effect over neutrality.
Uppercase shapes are particularly robust and symmetrical, while the lowercase keeps single-storey, simplified forms that reinforce the informal display character. Numerals maintain the same dimensional treatment and rounded geometry, helping mixed alphanumeric settings look cohesive. The strong edge contrast between the open interior and dark outline makes the face pop on light backgrounds.