Slab Square Afboy 4 is a light, very narrow, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial, book text, magazines, newspapers, packaging, classic, formal, literary, reserved, space saving, text economy, classic tone, structured readability, bracketed serifs, vertical stress, compact, crisp, sculpted.
A compact serif with slab-leaning, squared terminals and a generally vertical, upright construction. Strokes show moderate contrast with sturdy verticals and tapered joins that keep counters open despite the narrow set. Serifs read as firm and blocklike but are subtly shaped rather than purely rectangular, creating a crisp rhythm in text. Uppercase forms are tall and economical, while the lowercase keeps a traditional profile with a two-storey a and g and a simple, single-storey r; numerals are similarly narrow and consistent in color.
Well suited to editorial typography where space efficiency matters, such as magazine columns, newspaper-style layouts, and compact book work. It can also serve packaging or label copy that benefits from a classic serif voice and a tidy, condensed footprint.
The overall tone is traditional and composed, with a bookish, editorial feel. Its compressed proportions and firm serif treatment give it a slightly institutional, authoritative voice without becoming ornate.
The design appears intended to deliver a traditional serif reading experience in a space-saving width, pairing sturdy, squared serifs with controlled contrast for clear, economical text color. The goal seems to be a dependable, classic tone that remains crisp and structured at typical text sizes.
The narrow fit and strong vertical emphasis create a dense, efficient texture that holds together well in lines of text. Straight-sided characters like E, F, H, and N reinforce the squared, structured impression, while curved letters (C, O, Q, S) remain controlled and restrained rather than flamboyant.