Slab Contrasted Ispa 9 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Dean Slab' by Blaze Type, 'Churchward Conserif' by BluHead Studio, 'Olpal' by Bunny Dojo, 'Display Roman JNL' by Jeff Levine, 'FTY SKORZHEN' by The Fontry, 'Palo Slab' by TypeUnion, and 'Stymie' by URW Type Foundry (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, packaging, signage, logos, industrial, editorial, western, authoritative, retro, impact, headline voice, vintage utility, space saving, signage strength, blocky, compact, sturdy, bracketed, ink-trappy.
A compact slab serif with heavy, dense strokes and a tight horizontal footprint. Serifs are blunt and rectangular with subtle bracketing, giving joins a slightly softened, built-up feel rather than razor-sharp corners. Counters are relatively small and the interior shapes stay open enough for display use, while terminals often end in squared-off cuts that emphasize a sturdy, engineered rhythm. The overall texture is dark and even, with confident verticals and short, muscular horizontals that keep the line of text feeling compressed and forceful.
Best suited to headlines and short bursts of copy where a dense, assertive voice is desired. It performs well on posters, packaging, labels, and signage, and can anchor logotypes or wordmarks that need a sturdy, traditional slab-serif presence. For longer passages, it’s most effective at larger sizes where the compact counters and dark color don’t overwhelm the page.
The tone is bold and utilitarian, with a vintage, poster-forward attitude. It suggests classic print ephemera—headlines, labels, and signage—where impact and firmness matter more than delicacy. The heavy slabs and compact proportions add a slightly rugged, workmanlike character that can also read as Americana or old-style editorial.
Likely designed to deliver maximum impact in a condensed slab-serif form: strong vertical emphasis, solid slabs, and a consistent dark texture that holds up in bold display settings. The traditional letterforms and softened joins suggest an intention to balance industrial toughness with familiar, readable structures.
Capitals read strongly as a set, with consistent slab treatment and pronounced weight at joins. The lowercase maintains a compact, structured silhouette; the two-storey “a” and “g” reinforce a traditional, editorial feel, while the numerals are stout and attention-grabbing for short figures and pricing.