Slab Square Afkad 3 is a regular weight, narrow, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font.
Keywords: editorial, book text, newspapers, posters, signage, sturdy, authoritative, utilitarian, traditional, space saving, print texture, strong readability, traditional voice, slab serifs, bracketed serifs, compact, vertical stress, ink-trap hints.
This is a compact slab-serif with a strong vertical stance and relatively tall lowercase proportions. Strokes are robust with moderate contrast, and the serifs read as blocky slabs with slight bracketing that softens the joins. Curves are tight and controlled, counters are somewhat condensed, and terminals tend to finish with flat, squared-off endings that reinforce a sturdy rhythm. The overall spacing and letterfit feel economical, producing a dense, print-like texture in paragraphs while keeping glyph shapes crisp and consistent.
It suits editorial settings where a firm, compact serif texture is desirable—magazines, newspapers, and book typography—especially when space efficiency matters. The strong slabs also make it effective for headlines, posters, and straightforward signage that needs a solid, traditional voice.
The tone is practical and authoritative, evoking workmanlike printing and traditional editorial typography. It feels steady and no-nonsense rather than delicate, with a subtle vintage/industrial flavor created by the heavy slabs and compact proportions.
The design appears intended to deliver a dependable slab-serif voice for continuous text and strong display moments, balancing compact economy with clear letter shapes. Its squared terminals and sturdy serifs suggest an aim for high impact and consistent readability in print-like layouts.
Uppercase forms are straight-backed and emphatic, while the lowercase maintains a readable, compact flow with minimal flourish. Numerals match the text color well and appear designed to sit comfortably alongside the letters, supporting continuous reading and data-heavy lines without calling attention to themselves.