Wood grain is the naturally occurring lines seen on wood. They are a result of the sawing technique used to cut the boards in relation to the angle of the natural growth rings of the tree. Because the growth of trees varies from year to year and from species to species, wood grain is a consistent but unique feature of wood just like fingerprints in humans. The importance of wood grain goes beyond just aesthetic purposes. If a board is sawed to expose a great amount of grain, then the process of drying and the finish absorbing properties of the wood will be altered. Special attention must be given to the direction the direction which tree logs are cut into boards.

 

The most popular cutting method is the quarter sawing which results in even boards that feature parallel plains and the grain lines run uniformly along the entire length of the boards. Another method of cutting is flat cutting which produces sizable boards in usable shapes. However, these the pattern of grain exhibited by the boards produced using this method are widely considered unappealing. Boards of flat sawed woods are therefore used for the interior construction of projects. Veneers and finishing woods are produced using sawing techniques like radial and rift, to give manufacturers more control over the direction of the grain, which leads to completed projects with an increased visual appeal.