The applicability of the dichromatic reflection model to describe wood-light interactions in Douglas-fir veneer was investigated. Spectral reflectance measurements taken with illumination along and across the fibers were analyzed by the methodology proposed by Lee et al. (1990). Differences between observed and predicted spectral reflectances were small overall, and increased towards the blue end of the spectrum. Transmission through cell walls, interreflection between cell walls, and an optically active interface are possible explanations for these differences. Average reflectances were higher when samples were illuminated across the directions of the fibers. Rotary-peeled veneer, however, presents surface irregularities where the wood fibers have been pulled away from the surface of the material and where the along-fiber brightness is higher than its corresponding across-fiber measurement
