Slab Contrasted Isti 3 is a very bold, narrow, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'Competition' by sportsfonts (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, signage, packaging, logotypes, industrial, western, poster, assertive, retro, impact, heritage, compactness, ruggedness, condensed, blocky, slab-serif, square-shouldered, high-impact.
A condensed, heavy slab-serif with tall proportions and compact counters. Stems are thick and mostly straight, with square shoulders and firm, rectangular slab terminals that create a chiseled silhouette. Curves are tightened into geometric ovals (notably in O/0), and many joins resolve into crisp corners, giving the letters a carved, mechanical rhythm. Contrast is present but controlled, with slightly finer interior strokes and cut-ins that sharpen forms without softening the overall density.
Best suited to high-impact display settings such as posters, headlines, storefront signage, labels, and packaging where a compact width and strong slabs help text stay loud and legible. It can also work for short subheads or callouts when you want a dense, vintage-industrial flavor, but it will feel heavy for long reading at small sizes.
The font conveys a rugged, no-nonsense tone with strong signage energy. Its squared slabs and compressed width suggest vintage workwear, frontier poster typography, and industrial labeling, projecting confidence and toughness rather than delicacy.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual punch in narrow measure, pairing stout slabs with tightened curves to create a sturdy, poster-ready texture. It prioritizes bold recognition and a heritage display voice over neutrality, aiming for strong rhythm and a carved, emblematic silhouette.
Capitals read especially architectural and monolithic, while the lowercase keeps a similarly upright, compact texture for tight setting. Numerals are bold and uniform, matching the headline voice and maintaining strong presence in mixed text.