Blackletter Katu 5 is a regular weight, very narrow, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font.
Keywords: logotypes, posters, album covers, headlines, book covers, gothic, medieval, ecclesiastical, dramatic, severe, historic tone, display impact, compact setting, ornamental texture, angular, fractured, calligraphic, vertical, pointed.
A condensed blackletter with a strongly vertical build and broken, angular strokes. The letterforms are constructed from straight stems and sharp joins, with pointed terminals and occasional small spur-like details that echo broad-nib calligraphy. Counters are tight and often slit-like, creating a dense texture; capitals show more structural complexity with faceted curves and notched interiors. Numerals follow the same narrow, upright rhythm, mixing straight-sided forms with a few curved, blade-like strokes for emphasis.
Best suited to display work where its compact width and blackletter texture can be appreciated—such as mastheads, logotypes, editorial headlines, posters, and album or book covers. It also fits invitations or certificates that aim for a traditional, ceremonial voice, but benefits from generous size and careful tracking for readability.
The overall tone is formal and historic, evoking manuscript lettering, old-world signage, and ceremonial typography. Its narrow, dark rhythm reads as authoritative and intense, with a distinctly gothic mood that feels solemn rather than playful.
The design appears intended to deliver an authentic blackletter presence in a highly condensed footprint, emphasizing verticality, sharp pen-like construction, and a dense typographic color. It prioritizes historic atmosphere and distinctive texture for impactful titling and branding.
Spacing and internal counters create a continuous vertical cadence, so words can form a compact “wall of type” in longer settings. The design relies on sharp corners and broken-stroke construction for character, which can reduce clarity at small sizes or in low-contrast reproduction.