Kristina, to enable a vector rendering mode for the modern 3D effect, you should click a small arrow in the top right corner of the 3D and Materials panel, to open Render Settings and tick Render as Vector. Don’t forget to press Render button below to apply the setting.

Then the Expand appearance produces thin black lines for edges and a non-native art (in face a triangular mesh object as a fill which Ai can’t edit, but it remains smooth, like a traditional mesh).
The z-order of these lines would not be the correct one you expect, but let’s hope it’s a work in progress and the team will sort it out later.

How do I expand the 3D shape into a path I can work with? Previously I have done it with expand appearance, which now turns an object into a (for me currently useless) image.

We have made some significant enhancements to the ‘3D and Materials’ feature which was released just a few months ago, at MAX 2021. These effects have now been fully rebuilt using modern rendering technology. Apart from being much more stable than the classic 3D, it also allows you to do a lot of new and exciting things. The list of noticeable improvements are:

Map art (decal) on 3D objects:
We have now added the ability to map 2D art (decals) over 3D objects created with the new 3D and materials effects. In the initial release of map art, you will be able to add any 2D object on the canvas to the list of Decals in the Materials tab. You can then apply that over 3D objects in a freeform way without worrying about constituent surfaces.
In future updates, we do plan to include support for surface level mapping and support for invisible geometry mode. Here are the steps to map art (decal) over 3D surfaces:
1. Create any artwork, then click on the (+) icon in the Materials tab.
2. Click on Add Decals, your Decal would be added into the ‘Your Decal’ Section.
3. Select your 3D artwork and click on Decal which you have added.
4. Decal would be automatically wrapped around the 3D object.
5. As soon as the decal gets applied, the rotation widget would be replaced by a decal widget.
6. You can scale/rotate and move the decal around the art with the widget.

Dynamic shadow bounds:
Shadows created with the new 3D and Materials effect will no longer get clipped as the effect bounds will automatically extend according to the size of the shadows.

Bevel both sides:
You can now apply a bevel on both the front and back surfaces of objects. This can help create symmetrical 3D objects and cylindrical splines.

Multi Rotation of more than one 3D object:
You can rotate more than one 3D object irrespective of their 3D properties both from the panel as well as from the Rotation Widget.
This will help save time in workflows that deal with mixed 3D appearance objects.

Revert to Real Time during Live Editing in Ray Tracing Mode:
In order to save time and avoid slow rendering in ray tracing mode, this feature would silently turn back to real time without affecting your art.

There are more features we’re actively working on to further improve these effects. There are also a couple of known issues which we are trying to fix asap. And as this is the first drop, there are likely bugs we may have missed - please report those if you encounter them. The team would love to hear your feedback on these improvements.

Illustrator- 3D and Material New Feature Map Art and other Feature Enhancements in 3D is now LIVE on CREATIVE CLOUD DESKTOP BETA Section.

We have made some significant enhancements to ‘3D and Materials’ feature which was released just a few months ago, at MAX 2021. These effects have now been fully rebuilt using modern rendering technology. Apart from being much more stable than the classic 3D, it also allow you to do a lot of new and exciting things. The list of noticeable improvements are:

Map art (decal) on 3D objects:
We’ve now added the ability to map 2D art (decals) over 3D objects created with the new 3D and materials effect. In the initial release of map art, you’ll be able to add any 2D object on the canvas to the list of Decals in the Materials tab. You can then apply that over 3D objects in a freeform way without worrying about constituent surfaces. In future updates, we do plan to include support for surface level mapping and support for invisible geometry mode. Here are the steps to map art (decal) over 3D surfaces:
1. Create any artwork, then click on (+) icon in Materials tab.
2. Click on Add Decals, your Decal would be added into ‘Your Decal’ Section.
3. Select your 3D artwork and click on Decal which you have added.
4. Decal would be automatically wrapped around the 3D object.
5. As soon as decal gets applied, rotation widget would be replaced by a decal widget.
6. You can scale/rotate and move decal around the art with the widget.

Dynamic shadow bounds:
Shadows created with the new 3D and Materials effect will no longer get clipped as the effect bounds will automatically extend according to the size of the shadows.

Bevel both sides:
You can now apply a bevel on both front and back surfaces of objects. This can help create symmetrical 3D objects and cylindrical splines.

Multi Rotation of more than one 3D object:
You can rotate more than one 3D object irrespective of their 3D properties both from the panel as well as from the Rotation Widget.
This will help save time in workflows that deal with mixed 3D appearance objects.

Revert to Real Time during Live Editing in Ray Tracing Mode:
In order to save time and avoid slow rendering in ray tracing mode, this feature would silently turn back to real time without affecting your art.

The build has been posted on Creative Cloud Desktop in BETA channel. There are more features we’re actively working on to further improve these effects. There are also a couple of known issues which we are trying to fix asap. And as this is the first drop, there are likely bugs we may have missed - please report those if you encounter. The team would love to hear your feedback on these improvements.

Thank you for your hard work on trying to improve it here, but I just don't understand why of the most used options 'expand appearance' rasterizes the object. I've tried toggling the 3d menu but no luck. Quite frustrating, the UI should easily navigate a solution here but doesn't.

The art mapping tool would be so excellent in this new 3d feature. Would be extra cool if mapping onto a 3d surface was a little more dynamic too :)

Please put perspective back into 3D. Otherwise its not actually 3D its a rotatable isometric. Thats not the point of 3 dimensions in drawing now is it?

The perspective option is missing a lot. When do you expect to bring it back? Thank you!

I'd like to see more third party artists create the sbsar files and make available to others, either via purchase or free or in exchange. I don't have the time to build these files for my basic use of the Adobe apps. Many more designs needed on the current internal (AI) apps.

Adding back the perspective part of the tool is essential. Having to use Classic (where it the colors and diffuse lighting are wrong) is a work-around, but there was always a problem with lighting that required a work-around. The new tools do an excellent job on lighting, but are missing the ability to add perspective to the 3D artwork. PLEASE ADD IT BACK to he new tool.

Hello, the shadows could be reviewed! They are not continuing the missing part, unless you maximize the shadow bounds, but even there, the shadows get too pixelated. Maybe I'm missing a part too! if that's the case, let me know:)

@Mactastic: Can you please share the video with us demonstrating what is not working correctly. Also please provide the AI file.

Please, please, please bring back the perspective tool from the old Bevel and Emboss! It's essential

Thank you for finally updating the 3D effects tool after all these years. It still doesn't work correctly with a stroke on a Compound Path.

Hi thank you for this awesome feature. Works pretty good altho, i still cant hit the nail. I couldnt get a decent resolution on Big prints (3m long 3d text) even setting the raster resolution to 1200dpi. And also i would really like more control over the shadow - at least blending the shadow with bgr. Maybe an option to separate the shadow from the graphic so we can control it with blending options and opacity.

Thank you all for sharing your feedback. Yes, Egor is right. Our initial release for 3D is in Technology Preview, does not have the planned features such as map art, perspective, comprehensive expand to vector workflow etc.. We are actively working on these and will have it available in future updates.

That said, since the feature is out in 26.0, we are tracking feedback on this thread: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/938463-illustrator-feature-feedback/suggestions/44254299-improved-3d-effects-and-adobe-substance-materials

So request you to share your feedback there going forward. Thank you again, and we are looking forward to resolving your concerns in future updates.

I have created an artwork file using the 3D effect but when I try to rescale (up or down) the extrude does not scale in proportion? For example when I scale down the extrude remains the same so therefore looks bigger. Is there a fix for this?

I really like the the new 3D effects panel and functionalities but please integrate the perspective tool from the classic Extrude & Bevel panel. For me, it's a quite important feature I'd really miss if there was only the new panel...

We all are very anxious about seemingly raster-driven nature of the feature. Illustrator is vector, right? But in order to embrace Substance this was the bare minimum to introduce first.

Modern 3D won’t abandon vectors, on the contrary, it’s going to be improved in upcoming releases.
This includes better stacking in vector rendering mode (which you can already enable), visibility options to not render hidden faces, mapping (hopefully streamlined). It will support everything that original 3D does (including perspective) and more.

Existing 'classic' 3D is not going anywhere. You can still access it and use it.

Hi Ben, despite your your marketing BS I still don't understand why Adobe destroyed a fine working feature like 3D vector mapping. Adobe, please 'overhaul' your texture effects to any other of your pixel based app and re-instate this vector tool. Thanks!