Slab Contrasted Erna 5 is a very bold, very wide, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'Giza' by Font Bureau (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, signage, branding, packaging, western, poster, retro, industrial, collegiate, impact, vintage appeal, signage clarity, sturdy voice, blocky, bracketed, ink-trap, sturdy, high-impact.
A heavy, compact slab-serif with broad proportions, large counters, and a tall x-height that keeps lowercase forms prominent. Strokes are dense and mostly monolinear in feel, with noticeable contrast emerging at joins and where thick stems meet flat, squared slabs. Serifs are blunt and strongly integrated, often bracketed into the stems, giving the letters a carved, wood-type-like solidity. Terminals and corners show small notches and cut-ins that read like subtle ink traps, adding texture and helping keep apertures open at display sizes. Overall spacing is generous and the rhythm is sturdy, with round letters staying very full and rectangular letters emphasizing weight and stability.
Well suited for bold headlines, display typography, and short bursts of copy where a strong, classic presence is needed. It fits poster design, storefront or event signage, packaging labels, and brand marks that want a sturdy, vintage-inspired slab voice.
The tone is confident and assertive, with a vintage, workmanlike character that recalls classic posters, signage, and old print advertising. Its mass and slab structure give it a rugged, no-nonsense voice, while the subtle notching adds a crafted, slightly nostalgic flair.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum impact with a confident slab-serif structure, combining wide, weighty forms with small cut-in details to preserve clarity in tight, heavy shapes. It aims for a classic display feel that reads as durable and attention-grabbing in print-style applications.
In the sample text, the face maintains strong word-shape and legibility at large sizes, though the dense color and chunky serifs make it feel best suited to headlines rather than extended reading. Numerals match the letterforms’ heavy, squared construction and hold their presence well in a line.