How to Draw a Koi Fish in Photoshop

Step 40

Repeat these same steps you used to make the ‘Back fin’ onto all the other fins.

Step 41 Scales

Now we will create the scales for the body of the fish. Make a new layer and fill it with any color then add this pattern overlay. Once you have applied this pattern overlay ‘convert it to s smart object’ then rasterize.

Step 42

In this step we will change around the colors. First color is #cd200a, #ffd03f, #FFFFFF

Step 43

Warp this scale layer to one side of the fish. Erase any parts that go outside of the body.

Step 44

On the second scale layer do this exact same thing for the other side. Erase any parts that go outside of the body.

Step 45

Merge both of the scale layers.

Step 46

Add shadow to the body by grabbing a soft round brush #a16e28 and paint along the body

Step 47

Change this layer to Multiply

Step 48

Create a New layer and with a soft brush #734e18 paint along the bottom of the fin like the image below.

Step 49

Change this layer to Color Burn with an Opacity of 73%

Step 50

Create a New Layer and grab your soft round paint brush #edc480 again and paint along the back of the fish

Step 51

Change this layer to Color Dodge with an Opacity of 69%

Step 52

Create a New layer and place dots onto the red scales by using a soft round brush (14px #734e18)

Step 53

Change this layer to Color Burn then Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur

Step 54

Do this same thing for the yellow scales(7px soft round brush #edc480)

Step 55

Change this layer to Soft Light

Step 56

This is how it should look so far.

Step 57

Change the color of the Head to the settings below then convert it to a smart object then rasterize it.

Step 58

Next use a variety of brush sizes to achieve this effect for the head of the fish. Note: You may have to use multiple layers with different Opacity Levels