In PS CS6, Is there a way to break apart Handwritten text (not text recognition, just graphically)

Question

I have a scanned document that I want to eventually bring into After Effects to animate each handwritten letter so that it will form into an image... and because this is based on an artist's work, it needs to stay in her handwriting...
So I want to prep it in Photoshop CS6 ... is there a way to do this easily...
Thanks for any help in advance!!

Answer 1

Now, I have not used actual handwriting, but the concept is the same with a "handwriting font," as with the actual handwriting.
I use a series of Layer Comps in Photoshop, and Import those into Premiere Pro (will be essentially the same for AE). I start with the completed graphic, and then add a Layer Mask that covers everything up. Usually, I will just "paint in" this Layer Mask, so that I can get a rough idea of layout of the text. [If you scan is picking up background, such as the paper, things get a bit more tricky.]
Then, I hit the X button, to switch my colors for "painting out" that mask, starting with the first stroke, and working up to having no mask holding back, or hiding the text. Where strokes cross over each other, you have to give consideration for how that handwriting would appear, if one had shot a video of it, and at the cross-overs, the removal of the mask will be more complex, so as to not reveal any of the next stroke too soon. It can be a bit tedious, but can produce a good result.
As I complete the revealing of the stroke, or the part that I want (sort of depends on the pacing), I Save a Layer Comp, incrementing the name, which will be a numerical name, such as 00001.PSD, 00002.PSD, and so on.
I Import those into Premiere Pro (usually at a Duration of 3 - 5 Frames), and add a very short Cross-Dissolve Transition between each.
Good luck,
Hunt