AbstractAn optical method based on digital image correlation was used to investigate the impact of four decorative plywood manufacturing factors (core type, veneer type, adhesive type and lathe check orientation) on face veneer checking. The four core types were: combination core, medium density fibreboard, particleboard, and veneer core. The four veneer types were: peeled 0.604 mm, peeled 0.706 mm, sliced 0.508 mm, and sliced 0.564 mm. Both loose-side out and tight-side out lathe check orientations were used. The adhesive systems were urea–formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetate, and soy-protein based. 96 treatment combinations with 8 replicates were tested. All specimens were exposed to harsh but realistic drying conditions (approximately 30°C and 26% relative humidity) for 4 h during inspection. Checks were detected on 428 out of a total of 765 specimens (56%). The estimated mean check densities (area of checking per unit area) indicated some unfavourable factor combinations. All factors had some degree of interaction with one another and check development could not be attributed to a single factor examined in this study. The data were fit to a generalized linear mixed model based on Tweedie’s compound Poisson distribution. Confidence intervals were calculated via bootstrapping. The check density estimates produced by this model can be used to cautiously guide manufacturers as they decide on panel components. The broader use of the model is to highlight the complexity of the problem and guide future research in this area.