OK I'm close to pulling my hair out here. I want to to do what I think is a basic text reveal, but the way I want it to reveal with my typeface is really getting to me now. Basically this is what I'm after (example letter from blocky font):
http://i42.tinypic.com/2udwdc0.jpg
I sort've achieved it using the typical apply stroke start/end method, but this didn't fit what I needed as I couldnt give the brush a square cap (looks better with blocky font) plus it was limited to 50px. Same issue in 3D Stroke. So after researching a bit more I came across people talking about the stroke shape layer then and trim setting but this confused me more than ever and I couldn't get anywhere close to what I'm trying to achieve. I THINK I'm going to have to do this with shape layers somehow and not masks but I've lost myself a little. Also the way the letter fills is semi-important to me if it's not too difficult (the turns happening at a similar degree as in the image)
If anyone can break this down for me I'd be so grateful, I know I have to be overthinking this. Also please note if there's a difference between using a type font in AE for the method or a layered Illustrator file with a backplate (I'd prefer to use Ai doc and animate it but it's not 100% necessary)
Cheers guys...
Edit: I've managed to pull it off but by doing it purely manually, animating masks to behave the way I want to around the bends of letters etc. Works well but there's a lot of fussing with keyframe spacing to make sure it's smooth and equal, I think this will be my best bet for now.