To add to the point above: honestly, moving away from paint is the best decision you could make. I tried using Adobe Photoshop 2024 for my first shirt run back in the day, but that learning curve is brutal. Unfortunately, the interface is way too cluttered for someone just trying to get a design onto a t-shirt, and I had issues with the resolution being absolute garbage when I sent files to the printer. For retro stuff, you need to understand resolution, or DPI. If you use a simple tool, you end up with pixelated lines that look like a mess. I switched to using Canva Pro 1 Year Subscription because it simplifies the layer process. It handles the vector-like scaling much better than basic paint apps. If you want that crisp text, you gotta use their font pairing tools, which save you from the boring default look. I really wish I had known about AI upscalers earlier, as they make low-res designs look sharp enough for screen printing. I had issues with basic generators creating blurry results, but running them through a tool like Topaz Gigapixel AI v7.0 fixed it. Just keep your files at 300 DPI minimum, or the prints will look like trash. It sounds like technical mumbo-jumbo, but it is basically the difference between a pro-looking shirt and a DIY disaster. Don't panic, just stick to the simple drag-and-drop tools for now.

TL;DR: Stop stressing over the software and focus on the generative workflow. You dont need a degree to get clean prints. In my experience, moving from basic paint programs to AI-assisted workflows is a total game changer. I remember when I first tried to design for apparel; I spent weeks fighting with nodes and bezier curves only to realize my output resolution was garbage for screen printing. Over the years, I have tried many platforms, but I found that the best approach for a beginner is to let the AI handle the complex geometric scaling while you focus on the creative direction. Basically, you should look for tools that allow for high-resolution upscaling so your prints dont come out pixelated. I have spent a lot of time testing various engines, and the ones that offer integrated typography features saved me hours of manually kerning text. When I started my own side project years ago, I was super frustrated by the learning curve, but once I switched to a prompt-based design process, I was able to generate assets that looked like they were professionally illustrated. You really just need a setup that allows for transparent background exports so you can drop your designs directly onto your merchandise. Dont overthink the tech specs right now, just find a workflow that lets you iterate fast without getting buried in technical jargon.