Calligraphic Derak 3 is a bold, very narrow, medium contrast, upright, short x-height font.
Keywords: posters, headlines, logotypes, packaging, signage, gothic, vintage, theatrical, old-world, ceremonial, dramatic display, vintage flavor, compact impact, decorative titling, condensed, high-waisted, flared terminals, teardrop joins, sculpted strokes.
A condensed, display-oriented calligraphic style with tall ascenders, a compact x-height, and strongly vertical proportions. Strokes are sculpted with subtle contrast and frequent swelling into wedge-like or teardrop terminals, giving counters a pinched, ornamental feel. Many letters feature narrow apertures, elongated stems, and occasional hooked or flared endings, creating a rhythmic, columnar texture in words. Numerals follow the same tall, compressed construction with curved shoulders and weighty terminals that keep the set visually unified.
Best suited for headlines and short display copy where its condensed silhouette and ornamental detailing can carry the composition. It works well for posters, branding marks, labels, and signage that aim for a vintage or gothic atmosphere, and can be effective in editorial pull quotes or chapter titles when set with comfortable spacing.
The overall tone is gothic and vintage, evoking poster lettering, antique signage, and formal titling. Its dramatic verticality and sculpted terminals feel theatrical and ceremonial rather than casual, with an old-world personality that reads as assertive and stylized.
The design appears intended to translate formal, hand-influenced calligraphy into a compact, high-impact display face. Its narrow build, tall rhythm, and emphatic terminals prioritize distinctive presence and period flavor over neutral readability.
In text settings the dense, vertical color and tight internal shapes create strong impact but can reduce clarity at smaller sizes, especially where apertures are narrow. The distinctive terminal treatments and high-waisted lowercase give the font a recognizable voice that benefits from generous tracking and ample line spacing in longer lines.