Distressed Semi 12 is a very bold, normal width, high contrast, upright, short x-height font visually similar to 'Cosmic Dream Sans' by Carpiola Studio (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, stickers, album art, grunge, playful, handmade, punchy, raw, add texture, signal handmade, increase impact, create grit, roughened, inked, blotchy, rounded, chunky.
A heavy, chunky display face with rounded, simplified letterforms and visibly roughened contours. Strokes look brushy and uneven, with worn edges, occasional nicks, and slight ink spread that creates a printed-by-hand feel. Counters are generally open and friendly rather than geometric, while terminal shapes vary subtly from glyph to glyph, producing an organic rhythm across lines. Overall spacing reads compact and energetic, with a slightly bouncy baseline impression coming from irregular edge texture rather than true slant.
Best suited to short, attention-grabbing text such as posters, headlines, product labels, and merch graphics where texture is an asset. It also works well for playful branding, event promos, and editorial callouts that need a handmade, imperfect edge.
The texture and softened forms give an informal, crafty tone—equal parts gritty and friendly. It feels like bold hand-painted signage or a distressed stamp, communicating spontaneity and approachability while still landing with strong visual impact.
The design appears intended to deliver a bold display voice that feels human and tactile, using controlled distressing to evoke worn print, brush ink, or stamped lettering while keeping letter shapes simple enough to remain readable at typical display sizes.
The distressed treatment is consistent across uppercase, lowercase, and numerals, with the most noticeable wear appearing along outer curves and stroke ends. The bold weight helps preserve clarity despite the texture, though fine details are intentionally noisy at smaller sizes.