Serif Other Efma 9 is a very bold, very wide, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, logos, signage, playful, retro, theatrical, whimsical, punchy, attention grabbing, retro display, decorative serif, showcard feel, brand character, flared, cupped serifs, bulbous, ink-trap like, soft corners.
A heavy, display-oriented serif with soft, rounded volumes and exaggerated flared terminals. Strokes show pronounced modulation with narrow pinch points and teardrop-like joins that create an ink-trap-like feel in counters and at junctions. Serifs are short and cupped rather than bracketing smoothly, giving many letters a stamped, scooped silhouette. Proportions are expansive with wide rounds and strong horizontals; counters are relatively tight, and the rhythm is bouncy due to varied terminal shapes and occasional asymmetric details (notably in S, G, and the numerals).
Best suited to display contexts where its sculpted terminals and high-contrast shaping can be appreciated: posters, big headlines, branding marks, packaging titles, and playful signage. It can work for short bursts of text (e.g., pull quotes or event names) when set with generous size and spacing.
The overall tone is bold and mischievous, with a retro showcard flavor that reads as fun and slightly eccentric rather than formal. The scooped serifs and swelling curves evoke mid-century signage and poster lettering, adding a theatrical, attention-grabbing personality.
The design appears intended to provide a distinctive, high-impact serif for attention-first typography, combining classic serif cues with decorative carving and flared endings. It prioritizes character and presence over neutrality, aiming for memorable, poster-ready letterforms.
In text, the dark color and tight counters create a strong, compact texture, while the flared terminals keep it from feeling blocky. Curves frequently end in sharp pinches or small notches, producing a lively sparkle at larger sizes but potentially crowding at small sizes. Numerals mirror the same scooped, high-contrast construction, maintaining consistency across the set.