Splitting an image into Layers

[tomo28819524]

HELP!  This is probably very basic, but....

I have some hand-drawn text in Photoshop.  Each letter is on it's own layer.

When I copy these layers into Illustrator, they appear on one layer.  How do I separate the characters so each one is on it's own layer?

THANKS!

[Jacob Bugge]

tomo,

Is there a real/good reason to have them on separate layers rather than just as objects/sublayers in one layer? The latter is the normal way to work in AI, it may also have specific advantages such as applying strokes or other properties/effects/whatever to all objects in one go.

[tomo28819524]

hey Jacob!  Thanks for replay.

I will be vectorising the image then exporting into AE for an animation, this is why I need the letters on separate layers....

[John Mensinger]

tomo28819524  wrote

I will be vectorising the image then exporting into AE for an animation, this is why I need the letters on separate layers....

After the image is traced to vectors, it will be easy to sort the characters to layers because they will each be a discreet, select-able object..

[Anna Lander]

You don't need to vectorize the PSD text to use them in AE. You can import the PSD file as a composition (this will keep the layers as they are original) and in AE convert the PSD text into editable text: Layer > Create > Convert to Editable Text.

[John Mensinger]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Anna+Lander  wrote

. . . and in AE convert the PSD text into editable text: Layer > Create > Convert to Editable Text.

That's an interesting AE feature, if I understand correctly, but I'd assume it only applies to live text in a PSD, whereas the OP has what I understood to be images of hand-drawn text. Or, are you saying AE can potentially OCR those?

[tomo28819524 · Accepted solution]

thanks for all your replies.  I have sorted it now - the 'stroke' effect I was going to use in AE works with all types of graphic, not just vectors, as I thought.

[Anna Lander]

yes, you can apply an effect to any type of graphics. So you don't need to use Illustrator as an intermediate step, you can place your PSD directly into AE.

[Ton Frederiks]

When you place the layered .psd file, make sure to embed it instead of linking.

Than you will get the sublayers that Jacob mentioned.