Center veneer patterns on your substrate

To position a four-piece veneer pattern precisely in the center of a substrate, begin by marking the center of all four edges of the substrate. If necessary, to make the seams more visible, mark where the veneer pieces meet. After applying glue to the substrate, match all of the center marks with the veneer seams, and hand-press the substrate against the veneer. Then, press the glue-up using clamps or a vacuum veneer press, taking care not to shift the veneer.
—from the WOOD® shop