Sans Superellipse Penap 5 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'Neusa' and 'Neusa Neu' by Inhouse Type, 'Kuunari' and 'Kuunari Rounded' by Melvastype, 'RBNo2.1' by René Bieder, and 'Balbek Pro' by Valentino Vergan (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, sports, signage, industrial, poster, sporty, rugged, retro, impact, compactness, sturdiness, condensed, blocky, rounded corners, squared curves, high impact.
A condensed, heavy sans with squared curves and rounded-rectangle construction throughout. Strokes are thick and largely uniform, with tight counters and compact apertures that create a dense, ink-rich texture. Terminals are blunt and softly radiused, and many curves read as superelliptical rather than circular, giving bowls and shoulders a rectangular rhythm. The lowercase keeps a large, sturdy x-height with short ascenders/descenders, while numerals and caps maintain a tall, tightly spaced silhouette that holds together as a solid typographic block.
Best suited to headlines and short-form display settings where impact and compact width are needed—posters, packaging, team or event graphics, storefront and wayfinding signage, and bold brand wordmarks. It can work for brief subheads, but long passages will feel dense due to the tight counters and heavy color.
The overall tone is forceful and utilitarian, with a confident, no-nonsense presence. Its softened corners add a friendly, approachable edge to an otherwise tough, industrial voice, evoking athletic signage and retro display lettering.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual punch in a space-efficient footprint, using rounded-rectangle geometry to keep forms cohesive and sturdy. It prioritizes immediate recognition and a strong typographic silhouette over delicate detail or airy readability.
At smaller sizes the tight internal spaces can close up, so it reads best with generous size and breathing room. The condensed width and heavy mass produce strong vertical rhythm, making lines of text feel compact and emphatic.