Quick answer is that E3D works directly with Text. Trying to translate something done in 2D into E3D might be problematic though with the way 3D space is used.
My suggestion if you haven’t done so already is to snag some of Andrews earlier E3D tuts over on VideoCoPilot.com. He’ll touch on a number of basic things & pitfalls that aren’t easy to find trying to read any docs.