Butt Cap vs Square Cap Lines

[Chris M]

I can see that nodes of a line are in different places when comparing square caps (indented from the ends) and butt caps (on the ends), but in what situation would I need one over the other?

I often switch round to square ends and have used mitre joints when joining different colours or transparencies; but I have yet to find a need to switch square for butt or vice versa. They appear to be one and the same, although I'm sure they're not. Would anyone care to give a scenario? Treat me as a child learning my ABCs.

[handrawn]

butt cap allows you to drag on the node and align to another shape without an overlap

no doubt it is a lot more complicated than that..

[Chris M]

butt cap allows you to drag on the node and align to another shape without an overlap

no doubt it is a lot more complicated than that..

This is the vice versa bit...when would I use a square end then?

[handrawn]

it may come down to things like applying/postioning arrowheads - not my area of expertise, I'm a freehand artist...

[Acorn]

Use Butt Cap when you want a Line Length to stay the same, regardless of the Line Width.
When you use Square Cap, each end extend half the width of the Line Width; overall the Line Length is original (if Butt Capped) + Line Width.

Acorn

[handrawn]

that makes sense

[Chris M]

Use Butt Cap when you want a Line Length to stay the same, regardless of the Line Width.
When you use Square Cap, each end extend half the width of the Line Width; overall the Line Length is original (if Butt Capped) + Line Width.

Acorn

I hadn't any great expectations, but I feel slightly disappointed

I asked because I didn't find anything significant in the manual either and thought that maybe there was some life changing hidden mystery waiting to be be discovered.

[handrawn]

now it is pointed out it is a very useful distinction when making vector illustration; I probably knew it and would maybe have scratched my head and remembered if I'd had to think 'I'm sure there is a way to increase a line width without increasing it's length'

rocket science only in the sense that rockets are actually not at all complicated devices