Distressed Pubuk 9 is a bold, narrow, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Akzidenz-Grotesk Next' by Berthold; 'Allrounder Grotesk Compressed' by Identity Letters; 'Arial', 'Arial Narrow OS', and 'Helvetica Now' by Monotype; 'NeoGram' by The Northern Block; and 'Aksioma' by Zafara Studios (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, album art, stickers, playful, grunge, handmade, casual, quirky, add texture, humanize type, evoke print, create impact, express informality, rounded, blotchy, textured, inked, imperfect.
A chunky, marker-like sans with rounded terminals and irregular, blotched edges that create a printed-wear texture. Strokes are heavy and mostly monoline in feel, but surface erosion and ink pooling introduce strong local contrast and uneven counters. Proportions are compact with short extenders and a steady, upright stance; curves are soft and slightly lumpy, giving letters a friendly, hand-drawn rhythm. The texture remains consistent across caps, lowercase, and figures, producing a cohesive distressed color in text.
Works well for short-form display—posters, punchy headlines, packaging, labels, and merchandise—where the distressed texture can be a feature. It can also support branding accents and social graphics when set with generous tracking or in larger sizes to keep counters clear.
The overall tone is informal and tactile, like stamped or hand-inked lettering pulled from a well-used sketchbook. Its roughness reads as energetic and approachable rather than aggressive, lending a playful grunge character suited to casual, personality-forward messaging.
The design appears intended to mimic hand-inked or rough-printed lettering, prioritizing texture and personality over pristine geometry. Its consistent wear pattern and rounded construction suggest a deliberate balance between legibility and a crafted, imperfect look.
At smaller sizes the interior speckling and softened joins can close in, so it tends to read best when given some size or breathing room. The numerals share the same rounded, worn construction, helping mixed alphanumeric settings feel unified.