Hi, first of all, what program are you using? Second, you're trying to auto-digitize, and I don't think you're going to be happy with the results of that. But, your program should let you reduce the amount of colors. However, when you do this, you're going to lose a lot of resolution in the photo. If you really want to try auto-digitizing, you're going to have to take the clip art into something like Paint or PhotoShop and reduce the amount of colors. If you have a very limited edition of those programs, you're probably going to have to do it manually, and that will take lots of time. If you draw it, color it and scan it, you're still going to get hundreds of colors. Honestly, it's not that hard to digitize manually, and will turn out a much better product in less time than trying to fix a poorly auto-digitized one. Hope this was of some help. If you let us know exactly what digitizing program you're using, we can be of much more help to you. So glad you're trying to learn, you'll find it's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it! Hugs, Marji

It sounds as if you tried to auto digitize. In that case you need a nice clean picture.
When you digitise manually it does not matter whether there are many shades, you click points around the area and set the colour. You can use hazy pictures, shaded clipart and decide for yourself. See the design I made and the original picture. I digitised over the picture, made the cardigan into a shirt, left out the coloured wide stripes in the skirt, simplified the shape of the bowl and so on. I still have 11 colour changes (and 8 colours), but auto digitising would have given enormous problems.
So try doing it manually, it's not as difficult as you think and much faster than auto digitising and correcting the lot - that takes days!

Thanks for the help!

I wondered about the manula digitizing, I couldn't find anything on it anywhere in my manual. I have been trying to redo it in paint. What a task that is!!!!! I've put it aside for now, its driving me crazy!!!