Wood is a natural material that continues to react to its environment, even after it has been felled, dried and processed. The way a tree grows determines the color, wood structure and grain patterns that are visible in both solid wood and wood veneer.

By cutting a tree trunk into thin veneer sheets, the most beautiful and most exclusive wood can be used efficiently. This creates unique wood patterns that are widely used in furniture making, interior joinery, restoration projects and architectural applications.

Dark wood sits in the center of a tree trunk. This is known as heartwood. Heartwood is often used for woodworking.

Sapwood is found on the outer side of the trunk. It is lighter in color and softer. Sapwood is often not used as solid wood, but as a veneer you can actually see the color difference as a unique design element ! Santos Palissander often has a sapwood strip that is clearly visible.

A tree grows annually through the formation of new growth rings. These growth rings not only determine the tree’s age, but also influence the final grain pattern and appearance of the wood veneer.
In spring, the tree grows rapidly and produces soft, light-colored wood. During summer and fall, the tree grows more slowly and creates harder, darker wood. When you saw through a tree trunk, you will see annual rings. These rings reveal how old the tree is.

On a plank or sheet of veneer, you will see flame grain (plain-sawn) or straight grain (quartersawn or rift sawn) caused by the annual rings. A veneer factory determines which appearance (plain-sawn or quartersawn) the veneer will have based on the cutting method.

Some wood species develop distinctive figures and wood patterns during their growth. These natural irregularities make wood veneer popular with furniture makers, interior builders and restorers. Well-known examples are burl veneer , bird's-eye maple , pommelé, rippled maple and quilted maple.

Patterns in wood arise for a variety of reasons, such as the  wood fibers  themselves,  genetic mutation,  disease,  stress or simply chance . After all, nature follows its own course.

Sometimes you will see unusual patterns, for example where two branches meet. This creates a  flower or pyramid motif such as with  pyramid mahogany.

Burls  are rounded lumps that often form from a wound or insect infestation. When you cut these open, you see intricate patterns that run in every direction. Also check out our  burl veneer .

Other processes, such as genetic mutation, can create curly, twisted, blister, quilted, spotted and bird's-eye patterns.

Often these types of patterns are limited to just a small number of wood species.

Another type of pattern forms when a tree grows on a hillside or partially topples over but continues to grow. This causes compression of the wood grain on the underside of the trunk and stretching on the upper side.

Many unusual patterns in veneer, such as pommelé or riegel (rippled veneer) are caused by  light reflection, otherwise known as the  chatoyance effect (cat's eye effect).

Wood with distinctive patterns is  rare and  valuable. Particularly with burl veneer, the wood grain often grows in multiple directions at once. If the wood is not properly treated, it can split during drying and later expansion and contraction due to seasonal changes. One way to prevent splitting is to first cut or saw this wood into thin veneer sheets. 
Veneer is naturally  more stable than thicker solid wood. Veneer also offers a different approach to managing wood movement, which provides more freedom in design. When thin veneer layers are securely bonded to a stable base (called a substrate or backing board), almost all cross-grain movement is prevent

The way a log is cut has a significant impact on the appearance of the final wood veneer. Depending on the selected cutting method, different grain patterns, wood figures, and visual effects are created. The most common cutting methods are flat-sawn veneer, quarter-sawn veneer, rift-sawn veneer, and rotary-cut veneer.

For cutting veneer, the best logs are selected in advance.

At the veneer mill, the logs are stripped of their bark and literally steamed in preparation for the next step: cutting the veneer sheets from the log.

How the veneer is cut from a log determines which grain patterns and figures we see. A large blade cuts along the wet, relatively soft log that is clamped onto the cutting machine.

Some of the most common types include:

• Rotary-cut veneer is created when the log rotates while a blade continuously cuts veneer off of it. This technique produces wide veneer sheets and is widely used for plywood, panel materials, and industrial applications.
  
• Rift-sawn veneer is cut from the log at a specific angle, creating an extremely uniform and linear wood figure. oak veneer is often cut this way thanks to its clean, calm appearance.
  
• Flat-sawn veneer is the most common type of wood veneer. The cutting method creates a vibrant flame grain pattern that highlights the tree's natural growth. Flat-sawn veneer is widely used in furniture, wall panels, and interior projects where a warm, natural appearance is desired.
  
• Quarter-sawn veneer has a calmer, more linear grain pattern than flat-sawn veneer. This cutting method highlights the natural wood structure and is often chosen for modern interiors, custom furniture, and architectural applications.
  

The consecutively cut sheets are bundled into veneer bundles (flitches) that typically contain 24 or 32 sheets. The pattern of each sheet "shifts" as the blade cuts deeper into the log. If you lay the top sheet of the flitch next to the 32nd sheet, you will see a noticeably different pattern.

The veneer flitches are cut along their long edges to create sheets of uniform size with straight edges. During the cutting process, the scrap wood is removed depending on the desired appearance and/or wood species. After cutting, the veneer sheets are dried and stored in a climate-controlled space until they are sold.

No two trees are identical, which is why no single sheet of wood veneer is exactly the same either. Differences in color, wood grain, growth rings, and pattern make each sheet unique. It is precisely this natural variation that gives solid wood its character and makes veneer so popular in high-quality furniture construction, luxury interiors, and custom projects.

Proper storage of wood veneer is important to prevent warping, cracking, and drying out. By storing veneer correctly, the material stays flat, smooth, and easy to work with.

We typically ship the veneer rolled up . Smaller sheets or burl veneer sheets are shipped flat.

We recommend storing the veneer at home or in the workshop flat. If you store the veneer in a space with controlled humidity (i.e., indoor environments with heating or air conditioning), it will dry out over time. A still-rolled veneer roll that has dried out will retain its shape.

Because veneer arrives slightly damp, it is easy to unroll without cracking or splitting.

Do not place untreated wood veneer in (direct) sunlight to prevent discoloration. A shelf or an extra sheet of veneer as a top layer is sufficient.

If you plan to store the veneer for an extended period, seal the ends across the width with veneer tape or masking tape on the day it arrives, before it can dry out. Sealing the ends prevents cracks that could easily spread the full length of a sheet.