Distressed Ihlab 5 is a regular weight, normal width, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: posters, book covers, packaging, headlines, branding, antique, gritty, rustic, handmade, pulp, distressed print, vintage texture, rugged readability, analog feel, rough edges, ink bleed, weathered, uneven contour, printlike.
A serifed text face with visibly rough, irregular contours that mimic worn printing or dry, uneven inking. Strokes show modest contrast and slightly inconsistent terminal shapes, with small nicks and bumps along stems, bowls, and serifs. Proportions lean traditional, with a readable upright skeleton, sturdy capitals, and compact, workmanlike lowercase forms; overall spacing feels steady while individual outlines remain intentionally imperfect.
Well suited to display and short-to-medium text in designs that benefit from texture: posters, book covers, labels, and brand marks seeking an aged or handmade character. It can also work for pull quotes or headings where a printed, roughened voice adds atmosphere without sacrificing readability.
The texture and uneven edges give the font a timeworn, analog feel—suggesting old paper, stamped type, or distressed letterpress. It reads as historic and gritty rather than elegant, projecting a crafted, imperfect tone suited to atmospheric or narrative-driven design.
The design appears intended to deliver a classic serif reading structure while adding a controlled layer of distress for authenticity and tactile presence. It balances familiar proportions with deliberately degraded edges to evoke age, wear, and imperfect production methods.
Caps have a chiseled, slightly fractured silhouette that stays consistent across the alphabet, while lowercase maintains clarity in running text despite the distressed treatment. Numerals carry the same weathered finish and remain straightforward and legible, supporting editorial-style settings.