How to reveal an image as if it were being drawn

[I_ll_get_it_eventually]

After effects noob here, so I apologize in advance.

I have imported a pen and ink drawing that was scanned into photoshop. I exported it as a transparent PNG so that only the line art is left. Now, how exactly do I go about animating it so that it appears to being drawn in real time? I tried using the stroke effect in combination with running autotrace on the alpha channel; however, I ended up with around 3,000 layer masks which managed to bog down my computer. Is there a way to combine and reduce the number of layer masks created, or is there a better way to go about this?

I am currently running Creative Cloud.

[P.M.B · Accepted solution]

This should help you out.

After Effects - Creating a Paint Reveal Effect - YouTube

[I_ll_get_it_eventually]

That actually worked out great. I went through and used a few different brush paths etc and got what I was looking for.

Would you also happen to know how to pan objects on the Z axis through the camera, as if they are doing a fly by (or through in this case)? I found a few tutorials where an object is placed and one moves the camera to create the effect; however, I am trying to do this with a stationary camera.

I did an attempt where I moved an object on my desired path, but there is a point where instead of flying through and past the designated camera area, it is almost as if there is a smaller secondary camera window that is cropping the image at a certain point. Up until that point it looks fine, but at some indiscriminate section, it hits what appears to be a secondary-invisible window pane which kills the perspective growth in the main camera view/plane.

[I_ll_get_it_eventually]

It appears it could be based on that I scaled the image down initially? If I keep the image at the originally imported size, which is larger than my composition, it "flys through" perfectly fine. If I scale it down at all, then it stops as soon as it reaches that smaller size 😕

[I_ll_get_it_eventually]

I think i found out the problem: I did not have my paint layer activated as a 3D image.

[P.M.B]

Glad it worked out.  As for the other thing....You got it eventually