Sorry, did not see I had messages, new here, looks like I did not received mails when I got messages...

If the question is to know if I used automated gradients, I did only for the window. Everything else was done by hand. For the smooth gradients what I do is to start from the two extreme colors, then I paint with the hard colors. When I want intermediate color I pick one of the dark colors, and I "paint" with 50% alpha on the lighter (or the other way around), and I do that until I get all my intermediate colors. Then yeah I tend to do some block copy to avoid having to repaint every single pixel, but yet again I was doing that on the atari to copy the dithering patterns.

I can resubmit a version in 256 color without the window gradient if you prefer.

Haven't catched when it was available, but guess that sending for revision dealt with using of gradient (automatic effect) - when you submit picture, it is mentioned under number 6. Current PJ is standing on very purist principles, which have some negative effects.

Those pants look like a gradient. Are you sure this is pixel art at all?