2. Some last steps in Illustrator
pic 4.

pic 5.

Now create a copy of the letters and offset the path a few pixels to create the outlines (pic 4). Distribute the letters to seperate layers, so that you have one layer for the fill-in of each letter and one layer for the outline of each letter, so that in the end you have 10 layers alltogether. On an extra layer create some paths that run along the middle of each letter like in pic 5.
For now that´s all we need to do in illustrator for the setup. Now save the file in illustrator format. Don´t close the document, we´ll need to copy and paste some paths from illustrator to after effects.
3. Some first steps in After Effects  
pic 6.                       pic 7.

pic 8.
 
pic 9 and 10.
In After Effects create a new project and import the illustrator file as a composition. Create a new composition and place the n_outline-layer (pic 6) and the n_fillin-layer (pic 7) in the timeline.
Press control-y to create a new solid layer. It doesnt have to be very big, mine is 50x50 pixels. Name it "n_fillin_mask" or something like that. On that layer create a round mask, with a diameter that is just a little wider than the strokes of the letters. In Illustrator select the path that lies above the n and press control-c to copy it to the clipboard (pic 8). In After Effects with the solid layer selected press control-v to paste the path. After Effects has now created a motion path for the solid layer. It will probably not be on the position we want it at, so select all position keyframes and move the layer to its correct position by dragging the whole thing in the viewport window. Make sure you click and drag on one of the visual position keyframes (the little x´s in the viewport.
Make a ram-preview. If you find that the animation is too slow or too fast, adjust the speed by selecting all position-keyframes and scaling them by pressing alt and dragging the last keyframe left or right. By keeping alt pressed all other keyframes will be scaled in time to.
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