Slab Contrasted Roha 12 is a very bold, wide, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Dolmengi' by Ask Foundry; 'Boton' by Berthold; 'Cargan', 'Orgon Slab', and 'Shandon Slab' by Hoftype; 'Prelo Slab Pro' by Monotype; 'Fenomen Slab' by Signature Type Foundry; 'Palo Slab' by TypeUnion; and 'Typewriter' by URW Type Foundry (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, packaging, signage, branding, assertive, retro, rugged, friendly, industrial, impact, robustness, retro appeal, signage clarity, blocky, bracketed, soft corners, compact counters, heavy serifs.
A heavy slab serif with broad proportions, large, rectangular serifs, and subtly rounded corners that keep the bold forms from feeling sharp. Strokes are mostly even, with modest internal modulation and squared terminals that create a sturdy, poster-like texture. Counters are relatively tight and the apertures are conservative, emphasizing mass and solid color on the page. Lowercase forms are robust and slightly condensed in their interiors, while figures are equally weighty and built from simple, geometric shapes for strong presence at display sizes.
Best suited for display typography where bold presence is desired: headlines, posters, storefront or wayfinding signage, packaging, and brand wordmarks. It can also work for short subheads or pull quotes when set with ample leading and a bit of tracking to keep the dense color from feeling crowded.
The overall tone is confident and no-nonsense, with a retro, workwear character that reads as dependable and a bit playful. Its chunky slabs and dense rhythm evoke classic print ephemera—headlines, labels, and signage—where impact and clarity matter more than delicacy.
Designed to project strength and approachability through oversized slabs, broad letterforms, and a steady, rhythmic texture. The forms prioritize immediate impact and readability in attention-grabbing contexts rather than fine-detail refinement for long text.
At large sizes it delivers a strong, consistent silhouette and a distinctive slab rhythm; at smaller sizes the tight counters and heavy joins can visually fill in, so it benefits from generous size and spacing in use.