Russell Peters
09-11-2011, 09:27 PM
Jihada (Skin Quality)
Evaluation technique for Jihada (Skin Quality) requires special training. Even if the same color dye is used on both cotton and silk, it is not possible to create the same shininess in both fabrics. This is because of the differences in the fineness of these two types of fabrics and their textures. Fabric texture concept can be applied to the Koi skin texture.
In the production of high quality Koi, the fundamental principle is to choose a parent stock with fine skin quality. If a parent Koi does not possess fine skin quality, it will be impossible to reproduce the other good qualities of the parent stock. In the absence of good skin quality none of the other desirable characteristics can be passed onto the offsprings. Special training is crucial to evaluate and find fine quality skin.
Many amateur hobbyists mistake a very white skin as good. Evaluating white skin is not as simple as evaluating just the whiteness of the skin color. A fine piece of white paper has two surfaces, which are different in texture; one surface has the sheen. Similarly, the Koi skin could be equally white with or without the shine. These represent two totally different qualities of skin.
For those of you that judged the Shiro Utsuri Tosai in the Shiro thread and maybe did not understand why some of the Shiro ranked the way they did it was because of the statement above.
How white the skin is is not what determines the quality of that skin. It's the sheen that does. This should not be confused with the reflection you might have off of very white skin. White skin that is "flat" in nature will not have a luster, or glow, to it. The type of skin that has luster will give the feeling that the skin has depth, almost as if it is 3 dimensional. Again, it goes back to paint and layers. I don't know how many of you have had any experience with a cheap paint and a paint like Benjamin Moore. If you put 2 coats of Benjamin Moore paint on a smooth wall it tends to glow and have more depth, almost as if you can see into it. This is what you look for in high quality skin.
Here is a Nisai (20") Tancho Showa with such skin quality.
Evaluation technique for Jihada (Skin Quality) requires special training. Even if the same color dye is used on both cotton and silk, it is not possible to create the same shininess in both fabrics. This is because of the differences in the fineness of these two types of fabrics and their textures. Fabric texture concept can be applied to the Koi skin texture.
In the production of high quality Koi, the fundamental principle is to choose a parent stock with fine skin quality. If a parent Koi does not possess fine skin quality, it will be impossible to reproduce the other good qualities of the parent stock. In the absence of good skin quality none of the other desirable characteristics can be passed onto the offsprings. Special training is crucial to evaluate and find fine quality skin.
Many amateur hobbyists mistake a very white skin as good. Evaluating white skin is not as simple as evaluating just the whiteness of the skin color. A fine piece of white paper has two surfaces, which are different in texture; one surface has the sheen. Similarly, the Koi skin could be equally white with or without the shine. These represent two totally different qualities of skin.
For those of you that judged the Shiro Utsuri Tosai in the Shiro thread and maybe did not understand why some of the Shiro ranked the way they did it was because of the statement above.
How white the skin is is not what determines the quality of that skin. It's the sheen that does. This should not be confused with the reflection you might have off of very white skin. White skin that is "flat" in nature will not have a luster, or glow, to it. The type of skin that has luster will give the feeling that the skin has depth, almost as if it is 3 dimensional. Again, it goes back to paint and layers. I don't know how many of you have had any experience with a cheap paint and a paint like Benjamin Moore. If you put 2 coats of Benjamin Moore paint on a smooth wall it tends to glow and have more depth, almost as if you can see into it. This is what you look for in high quality skin.
Here is a Nisai (20") Tancho Showa with such skin quality.