The following was not obvious to me until I began experimenting. I don't recall a discussion about this before so hopefully it be a fun new thing to play with.
This could be helpful if you want to use the 3D effects with multiple objects but maintain some of the the 3D attributes throughout.
Create your objects.
Select all of them.
Apply a SOFTGROUP to them.
Click once on the softgroup to select all the objects of the group.
Now use the 3D tool to extrude and rotate, etc.
Some Benefits:
1- You can reposition the soft group easily. You can reposition the individual 3D objects within the Soft Group without modifying their 3D attributes via Control clicking with the Selector Tool.
2- You can modify some of the 3D attributes to ALL within the softgroup at once, even the extrusion (aka outline) color by applying the 3D Tool to the soft group.
3- You can STILL control on an individual 3D object within the softgroup (by Control clicking with the Selector Tool), then choose the 3D tool and manipulate its 3D attributes independently, but not destroy the capabilities of the softgroup and the 3D tool mentioned in 1 and 2 above.
4- It is a bit easier to keep a consistent look to the 3D objects such as their extrusion depths.
Play with the attached.
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