Distressed Soho 5 is a very bold, normal width, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Fuller Sans DT' by DTP Types, 'Franklin Gothic' by ITC, 'Trade Gothic Next Soft Rounded' by Linotype, 'Franklin Gothic' by URW Type Foundry, and 'Cern' by Wordshape (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, merch, stickers, grunge, handmade, playful, rugged, retro, worn print, diy feel, bold impact, casual display, rough-edged, blunt, chunky, inked, worn.
A heavy, chunky sans with softened corners and visibly irregular contours that mimic worn printing or stamped ink. Strokes are broadly consistent but show subtle wobble and edge chipping, creating a mottled, tactile silhouette rather than crisp geometry. Counters are compact and somewhat uneven, with rounded openings in letters like C, S, and G, and sturdy verticals that keep the texture from reducing clarity. Spacing feels slightly bouncy due to the irregular outlines, while overall proportions remain simple and compact for strong, blocky word shapes.
Works best for short-to-medium display copy where the rough texture can be appreciated—posters, event titles, album/cover art, packaging labels, and merchandise graphics. It can also add character to punchy pull quotes or section headers in editorial layouts when paired with a cleaner text face.
The texture and blunt forms give the font a rugged, handmade character with a casual, slightly mischievous energy. It reads as informal and approachable, suggesting DIY craft, screen-printed merchandise, or distressed poster typography rather than polished corporate design.
Likely designed to deliver maximum impact with a distressed, print-worn finish—capturing the feel of stamped lettering, screenprint imperfections, or aged signage while keeping letterforms straightforward and readable.
The distressed treatment is consistent across caps, lowercase, and numerals, producing a coherent “ink-wear” rhythm in running text. The bold massing helps maintain legibility at display sizes, while the rough perimeter adds visual noise that becomes more pronounced in smaller settings.