Yellow head on male koi

[Brady Brandwood]

High quality pure clean white makes a Koi, or establishes a base of quality. It will never detract. The look or type of white WILL affect the way the red and black look though - as a basic example, a bright porcelain white will MAKE a red look brighter with more zing, as much from underneath as in the overall look,... and a blue/white can make red look a darker hue, as purple/red. Is that what you're talking about?

Best Wishes,
Brady

[l113892]

I guess what I'm getting at is the purple based hi- any imperfections in purple base hi- is magnified- especially when compared to the persimmon based hi. Likewise with porcelain shiro. The fish you have pictured above- if there was any imperfections in the sashi it will stand out on this porcelain background.

Here is a kohaku I picked up in Japan in October. The sashi is not perfect but a porcelain shiro would draw even more attention to that area.

[Brady Brandwood]

Are you considering a high quality white's ability to mask or cover a thick sashi though? A part of what makes a white "good" white is the density - ability to cover veining skin, and thick sashi.

Here's another male, 17 months, still very immature color development, but quality - notice the nose, and the white area on the back by the dorsal, a thick and reflective white, even at this young age.

Best Wishes,
Brady