Draw inside function won't work with hand drawn shapes

[albertr93175757]

I want to Draw Inside this shape that I have drawn by hand, scanned in, and then Image Traced. Under Image Trace I ticked the Strokes only setting, as the Path setting was not working for me as it created shapes within the outlines that were being drawn inside of.

However any time I select the set of paths to be able to draw inside them, the Draw Inside function is either inaccessible or will not draw inside or anywhere at all. 

I did get it working once somehow when I first changed the trace setting to stroke, but it left a strange jagged hole where the paintbrush should have been, and I haven't been able to get anywhere close upon retrying the same steps. 

Also whenever I try to make a compound path it says that I can't.

Could this just be that my computer cannot handle it? It has been fine so far but is 10 years old nevertheless. Help!

[Doug A Roberts]

To achieve drawing inside, the function needs to be used on a singular path with a definite 'inside', not a collection of paths.

The second screenshot appears to be a live paint group?

[albertr93175757]

Thanks Doug,

Is there a way of making a selection of paths from the Image Trace into a singular path/shape? 

And yes I think it is I was trying to fill the middle and work from there. Ignore that!

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

Presumably you want to paint in the boundaries of the hand while keeping the linework intact?

I would probably make a copy to paint in. Keep your original as-is.

Make a copy, Paste in Place, make a Live Paint group. Close the open wrist at the top with a new path.

Fill it all black (or whatever). Go to Object > Live Paint > Expand, then open the Pathfinder panel and click Merge.

You should be left with a single object that can be used with Draw Inside.

[albertr93175757]

Thanks so much for your help, I think it's worked. And then presumably after shading the hand with the brush I'll merge it and copy the whole shape on to the original? 

[Doug A Roberts]

No, there should be no reason to merge anything.