Blackletter Ehni 5 is a regular weight, narrow, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, posters, logos, packaging, album covers, medieval, gothic, ceremonial, ominous, traditional, historical evocation, dramatic display, traditional authority, ornamental impact, angular, ornate, calligraphic, fractured, spiky.
This typeface uses sharp, broken strokes with pronounced thick–thin modulation and pointed terminals. Forms are generally narrow and upright, with compact counters and frequent internal cut-ins that create a chiseled, faceted texture. Capitals are more decorative and complex than the lowercase, with flourish-like strokes and notched details, while the lowercase maintains a consistent vertical rhythm with occasional curved bowls and hooked joins. Numerals follow the same blackletter logic, mixing straight stems with curved, tapering ends for a cohesive, period-like feel.
It performs best in short, display-oriented settings where its intricate stroke breaks and angular texture can be appreciated—such as posters, mastheads, labels, titles, and logotypes. It is less suited to extended body copy, but can work for brief quotations or introductory text when set large with extra spacing.
The overall tone is historical and ceremonial, evoking manuscripts, crests, and old-world printing. Its dense texture and spiky detailing can also read as dramatic and foreboding, lending a stern, authoritative mood.
The letterforms appear designed to capture a traditional blackletter voice with crisp, engraved-like sharpness and ornamental capitals, prioritizing historical character and visual impact over neutral readability.
The design’s strong vertical emphasis produces a dark, patterned color in text, especially at smaller sizes. Several letters rely on distinctive blackletter conventions and may require generous tracking and leading to maintain clarity in longer settings.