Scales

[Mars]

Hi everyone. I'm new so take it easy on me

Anyway, I found this sprite:
http://www.bogleech.com/youkai/youkai-mermaid.gif
and was wondering if anyone knew a good way to sprite scales like that? I've tried to find a pattern but it looks so random.

[Gors]

To make fish scales, you'll have to study how the scales are placed on a fish.


disregard all the Portuguese writings



As you can see here, the scales are round, and placed in a relatively regular pattern: they overlap themselves, forming those small rhombs. Since the sprite is usually small, it's represented by a checkered pattern. Also, notice the scales are shiny.

[Cobalt Blue]

for a sprite of that size, the scales would end being a simple texture of smaller shinny surfaces as gorsal pointed. be sure to make said shinny as subtle as posible.