Distressed Arpu 1 is a regular weight, narrow, high contrast, italic, short x-height font.
Keywords: posters, packaging, book covers, album art, social graphics, handwritten, expressive, rustic, organic, casual, handmade feel, brush lettering, textured display, informal tone, brushy, textured, wiry, sketchy, uneven.
A slanted, handwritten brush style with wiry, high-contrast strokes and visibly textured edges. Letterforms are built from quick, calligraphic gestures rather than rigid geometry, producing uneven stroke endings, occasional dry-brush gaps, and slight wobble in curves. Proportions feel condensed overall, with compact bowls and narrow counters, while rhythm remains lively due to natural variation in stroke pressure and character width. Uppercase forms are simplified and open, and lowercase shapes lean toward a loose script without fully connecting, maintaining clear separation between letters.
This face suits display settings where a handcrafted tone is desirable—posters, packaging, book or album covers, and social graphics. It can also work for short headings, pull quotes, and brand marks that benefit from an expressive, inked texture, while longer passages may require generous sizing and spacing to preserve clarity.
The font reads as personal and energetic, with a slightly rough, analog feel reminiscent of ink on paper. Its irregularities convey spontaneity and an informal, human tone, balancing charm with a touch of grit.
The design appears intended to simulate quick brush lettering with authentic texture and pressure changes, delivering an informal, expressive headline voice that feels hand-made rather than mechanically precise.
Stroke terminals often taper or fray, and verticals show subtle waviness that reinforces the hand-made look. The numerals and punctuation share the same brisk, brush-pen logic, helping mixed text maintain a consistent voice.