Serif Contrasted Tilo 3 is a very bold, wide, very high contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'EF Bodoni No 1' by Elsner+Flake, 'Poster' by Extratype, 'Bodoni Poster' by Linotype, 'Monotype Bodoni' by Monotype, 'Bodoni SB' and 'Bodoni SH' by Scangraphic Digital Type Collection, and 'Bodoni' and 'Bodoni M' by URW Type Foundry (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, packaging, mastheads, book covers, dramatic, editorial, formal, classic, commanding, display impact, luxury tone, editorial voice, classic modernity, vertical stress, sharp serifs, hairline joins, deep notches, ball terminals.
A strongly contrasted serif with pronounced vertical stress and crisp, razor-thin hairlines against heavy stems. Serifs are sharp and relatively unbracketed, giving edges a chiseled, high-precision feel. Counters tend to be compact and the joins create deep ink traps or notches in letters like a, e, s, and g, which adds texture and bite at display sizes. The overall proportions read broad and sturdy in caps, with round letters (O, Q) appearing full and weighty while maintaining fine interior detailing.
Best suited to large sizes where the fine hairlines and carved joins can be appreciated—headlines, magazine mastheads, posters, and premium packaging. It can also work for short pull quotes or titling in print-forward layouts, but its dense color suggests restraint for long continuous reading.
The tone is bold and theatrical, with a refined, classic backbone. Its high contrast and sharp finishing convey luxury and authority, while the exaggerated weight and deep cuts add a slightly eccentric, attention-grabbing character suited to statement typography.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum impact through extreme contrast and a wide, declarative stance, combining traditional serif cues with sculpted internal cuts for extra drama. It aims to feel upscale and authoritative while remaining unmistakably contemporary in its sharpness and bold presence.
In text, the heavy verticals create a strong rhythm and dark color, while the hairlines and sharp serifs keep the forms from feeling blunt. The ampersand and punctuation follow the same high-contrast logic, reinforcing a consistent, editorial display voice.