For example, you may have a wood grain pattern that you got from a photo, or you may have done it with procedural math. The photo pattern will probably be more interesting visually. But in either case, you must use a realistic Fresnel reflection, taking into account the right amount of blur, with conservation of energy, or it will not look like real wood, even if it's a photo of wood!

I agree on that when you mean lacquered wood, but when you have a simple sheet of untreated plywood, a photo and a diffuse or clay shader will do.

best regards,

Bopper.

-How can you improve things when you don't make mistakes?