Serif Contrasted Tiso 9 is a bold, wide, very high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, editorial, magazine, book display, posters, classic, dramatic, authoritative, formal, elegant display, editorial authority, classic revival, high-impact headlines, vertical stress, hairline serifs, ball terminals, teardrop terminals, sharp beaks.
This serif displays strong vertical stress with pronounced thick–thin modulation, pairing heavy main stems with very fine hairlines and crisp, lightly bracketed serifs. Counters are relatively open and the curves are smoothly drawn, while terminals often resolve into small balls or teardrops that add a slightly calligraphic finish. Proportions lean broad, with generous set width and steady spacing that keeps large text blocks even and weighty. Figures appear lining with similarly high contrast and clear serifed structure.
Best suited for display typography where contrast and fine details can be appreciated—magazine headlines, section openers, book jackets, posters, and high-impact branding. It can also work for short passages or pull quotes when set large enough to preserve the thin strokes.
The overall tone is confident and traditional, with a dramatic, print-forward contrast that feels suited to established institutions and editorial settings. Its polished detailing and emphatic verticals give it a formal, slightly theatrical presence rather than a casual or utilitarian one.
The design appears intended to deliver a classic, high-contrast serif voice with contemporary crispness: broad proportions for presence, refined hairlines for elegance, and distinctive terminal shaping to keep headlines expressive and memorable.
At larger sizes the hairlines and delicate joins become a key visual feature, creating a refined sparkle against the dense stems. The design mixes sturdy, compact forms in some letters with more flowing, tapered details in others, producing a lively rhythm without feeling decorative.