Distressed Uhly 1 is a regular weight, narrow, medium contrast, italic, short x-height font.
Keywords: posters, packaging, signage, book covers, branding, handmade, casual, vintage, lively, humanist, handwritten feel, aged print, informal voice, tactile texture, brushy, textured, roughened, slanted, organic.
A slanted, handwritten-style face with brush-like strokes and visibly roughened edges that simulate dry ink or worn printing. Stems taper subtly and show modest contrast, with rounded joins and occasional uneven terminals that keep the rhythm lively. Letterforms are compact and slightly condensed, with a relatively low x-height and generous ascenders/descenders that add a calligraphic flow. Spacing feels natural rather than rigid, reinforcing the hand-drawn texture across letters and numerals.
Well-suited to display and short-to-medium text where a handcrafted, weathered feel is desirable—such as posters, packaging, café menus, labels, book covers, and brand marks aiming for a rustic or artisanal tone. It can also add character to pull quotes or headings, especially when printed at sizes that let the textured edges show clearly.
The overall tone is warm and informal, with a vintage, tactile character that reads as personal and crafted rather than polished. The distressed texture adds a touch of grit and authenticity, suggesting printed ephemera, workshop labels, or rustic signage. Its energetic slant and uneven stroke edges create an expressive, approachable voice.
The design appears intended to capture the look of quick brush lettering with a deliberately imperfect, worn imprint. It balances legibility with expressive texture, aiming to provide an authentic handmade voice for thematic and decorative typography.
Uppercase forms retain a simple, readable structure while showing slight irregularities in stroke weight and edge breakup, especially on curves and diagonals. Numerals follow the same brushy logic, with open shapes and soft, imperfect terminals that stay consistent with the worn-ink effect. The texture is prominent enough to be a defining feature, particularly at larger sizes.