Distressed Tegu 9 is a regular weight, very narrow, low contrast, upright, very short x-height font.
Keywords: posters, book covers, album art, halloween, packaging, vintage, handmade, worn, eerie, playful, aged print, hand lettering, analog texture, atmospheric display, rough, inky, textured, uneven, condensed.
A condensed, hand-drawn display face with rough, ink-bled outlines and subtly broken contours that mimic worn printing or dry-brush strokes. Strokes are generally monolinear, with slight swelling, fraying edges, and irregular terminals that create a jittery rhythm across words. Letterforms are upright and narrow, with tall capitals, a notably small x-height in the lowercase, and inconsistent widths that enhance the handmade feel. Curves and bowls are slightly lopsided, counters are modest and sometimes pinched, and the overall texture reads as intentionally distressed rather than cleanly geometric.
Works well for posters, event promos, and headlines that benefit from a rough, analog look, as well as book covers and album art seeking a handcrafted or slightly unsettling voice. It also suits themed packaging and labels, especially where a vintage, worn print aesthetic is desired.
The font conveys a gritty, analog tone—part vintage ephemera, part handmade signage—with an undercurrent of quirky spookiness. Its irregularity feels human and improvised, giving text a tactile, printed-by-hand character that can range from playful to ominous depending on setting and color.
The design appears intended to emulate imperfect hand lettering and degraded print—capturing the look of ink on porous paper, lightly eroded edges, and uneven drawing pressure. Its condensed build suggests an aim for impactful headlines that still feel personal and tactile rather than polished.
The texture is consistent enough to hold together in short lines, but the narrow proportions and distressed edges make it most comfortable at display sizes where the rough contour can be appreciated. The numerals and punctuation inherit the same worn, inky treatment, helping mixed text feel unified.