VENEER GUIDE
FIGURE TYPES

Wood veneer figures reveal the natural character and movement of the tree. Formed by the wood’s growth pattern, grain direction, and cutting method, each figure creates a distinct visual effect, from subtle and linear to bold and expressive. Understanding these figure types helps designers and woodworkers choose the right veneer to achieve the desired mood, texture, and elegance in a finished space.

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Leaf matching refers to the process of pairing and assembling individual veneer leaves to create a single panel face. The chosen matching method influences grain continuity, symmetry, and visual balance, shaping the overall character of the veneer surface.

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Veneer matching refers to the arrangement and joining of individual leaves on a panel surface. The matching method determines the flow, symmetry, and visual rhythm of the grain, playing a key role in the overall look and consistency of the finished panel. Selecting the right matching technique helps achieve the desired balance between natural variation and design control.

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Panel matching is the process of coordinating multiple veneered panels across a larger surface or installation. This involves controlling continuity, alignment, and visual flow from one panel to the next to ensure a cohesive and intentional appearance. Proper panel matching is essential for achieving consistency and design harmony in architectural and millwork applications.

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Sketch Face veneer involves decorative veneer designs formed by arranging individual leaves into geometric patterns instead of following the natural grain flow. These sketch faces are used to make striking visual statements, establish symmetry, and create focal points in architectural and furniture applications.

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Wood veneer cuts define how the log is sliced and directly influence the grain pattern, movement, and overall appearance of the veneer. Each cutting method highlights different natural characteristics of the wood, affecting both aesthetics and performance. Understanding veneer cuts helps ensure the right balance of visual impact, consistency, and design intent for each application.

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Bird’s Eye

Characterized by small, swirling circular figures that resemble tiny bird eyes scattered across the surface. This natural figure occurs most commonly in maple (Birdseye Maple) and results from irregular grain growth. Due to its rarity and distinctive visual character, Birdseye veneer is more limited in availability and higher in cost than standard straight-grain veneers

Fiddleback | Figured

A natural wood figure defined by fine, tight, and regular spaced undulations in the grain, creating a pronounced linear ripple. It features very fine, regular, and closely spaced ripples. Due to its visual depth and selective occurrence, fiddleback veneer is more limited in availability and higher in cost than straight-grain veneers.

Curly

Characterized by contortions in grain direction that reflect light to produce a wavy, three-dimensional, flame effect across the surface. This natural figure results from periodic changes in fiber orientation and is most commonly found in maple (Curly Maple).

Mottled

Mottled veneer is an irregular form of figure that runs across the entire surface of the veneer. It can be identified by its wavy spiral-like grain that causes the veneer to have a wrinkled or blotchy figure. The mottled figure may be scattered randomly or appear as a regular checkerboard pattern.

Crotch

Cut from the juncture of a tree’s main branches and trunk, crotch veneer exhibits highly interlocked grain patterns that radiate outward. These figures are often further categorized as flame, plume, rooster tail, feather, or burning bush, each creating a distinctive and visually striking effect.

Burl

Formed from a growth anomaly, typically a rounded outgrowth on the trunk or branches, burl veneer exhibits highly irregular, swirling, and complex grain patterns, often featuring eyes, knots, and clusters. Its unique and richly textured appearance makes burl veneer rare and visually dramatic.

Pommele

Pommele is a small to medium sized blister figure, the more uniform and heavy the blister, the more valuable. Dense pattern of small rings enveloping one another. It’s usually found in extremely large trees of African species like sapele, bubinga and makore.

Crossfire

This term is used to describe all of the various figure marks running perpendicular to the veneer grain. In some wood species the crossfire is a contrast of color, while others appear as an irregularity of the grain creating the illusion of horizontal marks.

Flake

Found only in species that have prominent medullary rays (cells radiating outward from the center of the tree). By slicing the veneer perpendicular to the annular rings and parallel with the rays, a distinctive “flake” within the figure is created. This effect is most commonly achieved on white oak qtr cut veneer.

Plain Stripe and Ribbon Stripe

Characterized by long, narrow, parallel streaks running along the grain, creating a linear, ribbon-like appearance. This figure provides a subtle, linear texture and is most commonly achieved on sapele qtr cut veneer.

Quilted

This figuring is produced by rotary or half-round slicing of logs that have a “bumpy” surface. The uneven weaving of the growth rings produces a quilted, three-dimensional effect. This figure results from irregular undulations in the grain and is most commonly found in maple.

Book Match

A veneer matching method in which one veneer leaf is flipped and joined to the adjacent leaf, much like turning the pages of a book and laid side by side. This creates a mirrored, symmetrical grain pattern at the center joint, producing a balanced and visually striking appearance.

Random Match

A veneer matching method in which veneer leaves are assembled without attempting to align or match the grain. Veneer leaves are selected and placed at random, resulting in natural variation in grain and color, giving the panel a rustic, natural appearance.

Slip Match

A veneer matching method in which consecutive veneer leaves are placed side by side in the same orientation, without flipping. This results in a repeating grain pattern with consistent direction, creating a clean, uniform, and contemporary appearance.

Balance Match

A veneer matching method in which veneer leaves are arranged to create equal widths on both sides of a panel, with the outer leaves trimmed as needed to balance the layout. Panel faces may be composed of an odd or even number of equal-width veneer pieces. This method allows for efficient use of veneer yield. Grain patterns may not mirror at the center joint (unlike center balance), resulting in a symmetrical and orderly appearance without requiring mirrored grain.

Center Balance Match
(Plywood Express default Architectural Faces)

A veneer matching method in which veneer leaves are arranged symmetrically around a centerline, with the center joint acting as the visual axis. Veneer leaves on each side of the centerline are of equal width and are typically mirrored, creating a balanced and highly controlled appearance.

This creates the most symmetrical pattern in architectural paneling. All leaves are trimmed to the same size and the pattern uses an even number of leaves, centered on the panel face.

Running Match
(Plywood Express - Express Faces)

Each panel face is assembled from as many leaves as necessary. Any portion left over from the last leaf may be used as the start of the next panel.

This often results in a non-symmetrical appearance, with some veneer leaves of unequal width. The running match technique is the most economical method of veneer matching, but aesthetics are sacrificed to some extent when this method is used. 

Sequence Match
(long grain panels)

A matching method in which consecutive veneer leaves from the same log are assembled in the order they are sliced and laid side by side across the width of adjacent panels. This preserves the natural progression of grain, color, and figure, creating a smooth, continuous visual flow from one panel to the next.

End Match
(long grain panels)

This matching method is used to extend the available veneer length for applications such as long conference tables by joining veneer leaves end to end (top to bottom) rather than side to side. The result introduces vertical symmetry and distinctive mirrored grain patterns

Sequence & End Match
(long grain panels)

This matching style combines both sequence and end match techniques to extend the available veneer for applications such as wall panels. Veneer leaves are joined side to side and end to end (top to bottom), creating a continuous wood grain appearance across both the width and length of the panel. This method is commonly used when the required panel height or length exceeds the available veneer leaf size.

Blueprint Match

A custom veneer layout method in which veneer leaves are carefully selected, sequenced, and positioned to follow a predetermined design or drawing. The grain pattern is planned in advance to align across multiple panels, doors, or architectural elements, creating a controlled, intentional appearance. Blueprint matching is typically used on large or high-visibility installations where precise grain continuity, symmetry, or alignment is required across an entire project.

Sequence Match
(cross grain panels)

In cross-grain applications (horizontal grain), the veneer figure rotates ninety degrees, causing natural grain features to spread laterally across the surface. Matching methods become more visually pronounced, especially end matching, as repetition and symmetry are emphasized side to side.

End Match
(cross grain panels)

In a cross-grain orientation (horizontal grain), the same end-matched veneer is rotated ninety degrees, causing mirrored grain features to repeat side to side. This orientation amplifies symmetry and rhythm, making the matching method immediately noticeable.

Sequence & End Match
(cross grain panels)

In cross-grain panels, sequenced matching emphasizes continuity and lateral flow, while end matching emphasizes symmetry, repetition, and visual impact. The choice depends on whether the design intent favors a calm, unified surface or a bold, statement-driven composition.

Diamond Pattern

Created by joining quartered veneers at angles to form diamond shapes, this pattern highlights straight grain for a refined, geometric look.

Reverse Diamond Pattern

A reverse diamond sketch face is made by mirroring the grain direction of quartered veneers in opposite angles, forming interlocking diamond patterns. This creates a symmetrical effect with strong visual depth

Box Pattern

A box pattern sketch face is created by arranging quartered veneers in alternating grain directions, vertical and horizontal, forming a checkerboard or box-like design.

Reverse Box

A reverse box sketch face alternates the grain direction in opposite orientation within each square, creating a mirrored checkerboard effect.

Basket Weave

A Basket Weave sketch face is made by arranging veneer strips in an over-under woven pattern, alternating grain direction both vertically and horizontally. The result is a textured, interlaced design that adds depth and visual interest

Sunburst

A sunburst sketch face is crafted by arranging veneer leaves in a radial pattern that fans outward from a central point, resembling sun rays. 

Chevron (V-Match)

Assembled veneer leaves are cut typically at a 45 degrees angle to one edge of the panel and then end matched to the adjoining assembled sets of leaves. This arrangement creates a continuous, symmetrical zigzag (V-shaped) flow across the surface.

Plain Sliced | Flat Cut

A half log is mounted with the heart side flat against the flitch table of the slicer. The cut is then made with the blade parallel to the length of the log producing the appearance of a “cathedral effect”.

Rotary Cut

A whole log is mounted in the center of the lathe and turned against a sharp blade, much like unwinding a roll of paper. It is the most economical method of cutting. Rotary cut veneer can be wide enough to produce a full-sheet, or single piece faces.

Rift Cut

A quarter of the log is fixed to a plate on a turning stay log. As the flitch is rotated, the blade and angle can be varied so that the wood is cut exactly to produce the very straight rift grain but avoids the appearance of “flake” that occurs in some species when quarter sliced. Most often, this method is used with oak and it is generally the straightest and free from cathedrals and variations in grain.

Quarter Cut

A quarter log is mounted on the flitch table so that the growth rings are perpendicular to the cutting blade, producing a series of stripes. These stripes can be straight in some woods and varies in others, often highlighted by subtle ray flecks, especially in oak.

Half Round | Crown Cut

A half, third or quarter of a log is attached to a plate on a lathe and turned. Half-round slicing is used to accentuate the different grain in certain woods producing alternating patterns between flat and quarter slicing.