Slab Contrasted Erly 3 is a very bold, wide, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font.
Keywords: posters, headlines, logotypes, packaging, signage, western, circus, poster, vintage, playful, wood-type revival, attention grabbing, nostalgic display, high impact, bracketed, soft corners, ink-trap cuts, ball terminals, high waistline.
A heavy display slab with broad proportions, strong rectangular slabs, and visibly bracketed joins that soften the corners. Strokes are robust with moderate internal contrast and a lively, carved look created by consistent triangular/teardrop cut-ins at joins and terminals. Counters are compact and rounded, and many glyphs show small notches or ink-trap-like scoops that open tight interior spaces and add rhythm. The lowercase has a large x-height with sturdy, simplified forms; the numerals are equally bold and rounded, built for headline clarity rather than fine detail.
Best suited to display applications such as posters, headlines, storefront-style signage, and bold brand marks where the slab structure and carved details can read clearly. It also works well on packaging and labels that want a vintage show-card feel, especially when set with ample tracking and short lines.
The overall tone reads theatrical and nostalgic, combining a confident, old-time poster presence with a friendly, slightly whimsical bounce. The cut-in details evoke wood type, circus bills, and Western sign painting, giving the font a bold, showman-like voice that feels more celebratory than formal.
The design appears intended to reinterpret classic heavy slab/wood-type forms with a distinctive notched detailing system that adds character and improves interior openness at extreme weights. Its proportions and large lowercase aim for immediate readability in big, attention-grabbing typography while retaining a decorative, period-evocative texture.
In text settings the dense weight and compact counters make word shapes chunky and high-impact, with the decorative cut-ins becoming a defining texture across lines. The face benefits from generous spacing and larger sizes where the carved details stay crisp and the slabs don’t visually clog.