Serif Normal Upnul 2 is a bold, very narrow, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Onyx' by Bitstream, 'Malutzki Initials' by Spirit & Bones, and 'Onyx' by Tilde (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, editorial, posters, book covers, mastheads, vintage, dramatic, formal, literary, space saving, attention grabbing, editorial tone, classic revival, condensed, vertical stress, bracketed serifs, tight spacing, sharp terminals.
This typeface is a condensed serif with strong vertical emphasis and pronounced thick–thin modulation. Stems are heavy and dark while hairlines are notably fine, creating a crisp, high-tension rhythm, especially in rounded forms like C, O, and e. Serifs are bracketed and relatively small but distinct, with sharp, tapered terminals that keep counters tight and the overall silhouette compact. Proportions are tall and narrow across both cases; lowercase has a moderate x-height with ascenders and descenders that read long, and the figures follow the same condensed, high-contrast construction.
Well suited to headlines, subheads, and other display roles where a condensed width helps fit more characters into narrow measure or tight layouts. It works particularly well for editorial design, book covers, posters, and mastheads that benefit from a dark, authoritative typographic color and a classic serif voice with added drama.
The overall tone is dramatic and editorial, with a vintage, print-forward feel that suggests classic newspaper and book typography pushed into a more intense, condensed voice. Its dense vertical texture and sharp detailing communicate seriousness and formality, making it feel authoritative and slightly theatrical when set in larger sizes.
The design appears intended to deliver a traditional serif reading impression while maximizing impact in limited horizontal space. Its combination of condensed proportions and strong contrast suggests a focus on attention-grabbing display typography that still retains conventional serif structure for familiar, editorial credibility.
In text lines, the narrow set and compact counters create a tight, column-friendly texture with strong vertical striping. The design’s fine connecting strokes and hairlines are visually delicate relative to the heavy stems, so the most distinctive character comes through at display and headline sizes where the contrast and bracketed serifs are more clearly resolved.