Slab Contrasted Onba 9 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'Rama Slab' by Dharma Type, 'FF DIN Slab' by FontFont, and 'Night Train' by FontMesa (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, signage, logos, packaging, western, athletic, industrial, rugged, vintage, impact, heritage, authority, compactness, blocky, bracketed, square serif, compact, punchy.
A compact slab-serif design with heavy, squared-off terminals and short, blocky serifs that read as strongly bracketed in many joins. Strokes stay broadly even with only modest modulation, producing dense, dark letterforms and a steady rhythm in text. Counters are relatively tight and often rectangular, with rounded shoulders on forms like n and m that soften the otherwise squared construction. The lowercase is robust with a prominent x-height, and the numerals follow the same chunky, billboard-like build.
This face excels in short, high-impact applications such as headlines, poster titles, storefront or event signage, and identity marks that need a sturdy, compact wordshape. It can also work well on packaging and labels where a vintage, workmanlike presence is desired and space is limited.
The overall tone is bold and assertive, with a distinctly American display flavor that can evoke western posters, athletic lettering, and industrial signage. Its compressed, high-impact shapes feel confident and a bit nostalgic, leaning toward headline drama rather than quiet neutrality.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual weight and readability at display sizes through thick strokes, compact proportions, and emphatic slab terminals. Its construction prioritizes a strong silhouette and a classic, sign-painter/poster sensibility that holds up well in bold branding contexts.
The font’s strong horizontals and slabby ends create a pronounced texture line-to-line, especially in all-caps settings. In longer passages the density and tight interior spaces make it best treated as a display face, where its sturdy silhouette can dominate without relying on fine detail.