Thanks! I've done the odd bit here and there before, and a little practice with dithering etc. but this is the first thing I'd actually call 'serious' as it were.

I believe I've heard about uing absolute black or white before - I changed the black to a deep red, and I do this it has helped. I also cut out the grimy yellow colour for the clasp, as I felt it looked wierd and unnessecarily extended the pallette.

Would the alpha colour be considered as part of the pallette usually? I listed it as eight, but previously (including alpha) it would have been 9...