Slab Square Afref 3 is a light, very narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial, magazines, newspapers, captions, reference, bookish, formal, utilitarian, reserved, space-saving, text clarity, structured tone, economy, condensed, crisp, linear, compact, sturdy serifs.
A slender slab-serif with compact proportions and a tight overall rhythm. Strokes are fairly even, with minimal modulation, and the serifs are squared and assertive, creating clear horizontal anchors at the ends of stems and arms. Counters are relatively small and vertical emphasis is strong, giving the design a tall, economical texture in lines of text.
Well suited to editorial typography where narrow columns and high information density matter, such as magazines, newspapers, and reference layouts. It can also serve for captions, sidebars, and navigation where a firm, structured voice is needed without calling too much attention to itself. At larger sizes, its tall proportions and slab endings can work for understated headlines and titles.
This face conveys a composed, editorial tone with a slightly old-world, bookish feel. Its narrow stance and crisp slab endings read as disciplined and practical rather than flashy, lending a quietly authoritative voice suited to information-forward typography.
The design appears intended to pack a lot of information into limited space while keeping a stable, readable texture. Its squared slab finishing and restrained detailing suggest an emphasis on consistency and typographic order for continuous reading and dense settings.
In text, the narrow width creates a compact color and strong vertical cadence, while the squared serifs help maintain character separation and baseline stability. Numerals match the overall slim, upright feel, supporting tabular or data-adjacent settings visually even without overt display features.