Serif Flared Viru 12 is a bold, very narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: posters, book covers, headlines, packaging, signage, gothic, storybook, medieval, dramatic, ornamental, evoke heritage, add drama, create atmosphere, display impact, spiky, angular, tapered, flared, calligraphic.
This typeface presents compact, vertically oriented letterforms with flared stroke terminals and sharp, wedge-like serifs. Strokes maintain an even, sturdy color, while many joins and endings taper into pointed spurs that give the contours a cut, chiseled feel. Curves are slightly squarish and tightened, with narrow counters and a rhythmic alternation of straight stems and small, angular hooks. The overall texture is dense and emphatic, with distinctive, sculpted silhouettes across caps, lowercase, and numerals.
It performs best in display contexts such as posters, titles, book covers, and branded headlines where its carved, spiky detailing can be appreciated. It also suits themed packaging, labels, and signage for fantasy, historical, or Halloween-adjacent aesthetics. For longer passages, larger sizes and generous line spacing help maintain clarity and reduce visual density.
The font conveys a gothic, storybook tone with a hint of medieval craft. Its pointed terminals and carved-looking details feel ceremonial and theatrical, suggesting old-world signage, folklore, and dark-fantasy atmospheres. The tight spacing and strong presence lend it a dramatic, poster-ready voice rather than a quiet, utilitarian one.
The design appears intended to deliver an old-world, hand-wrought impression while remaining sturdy and highly legible at headline sizes. Flared endings and wedge serifs add character without relying on high contrast, creating a consistent, dark typographic color suited to dramatic branding and titling.
Uppercase forms read as stately and emblematic, while lowercase introduces livelier, more calligraphic movement through hooked ascenders/descenders and tapered finishing strokes. Numerals share the same flared, spurred construction, helping mixed alphanumeric settings keep a consistent, decorative color. The sharp terminals and narrow apertures make the design most comfortable at display sizes where the distinctive cuts can breathe.