Relief Carving Calculator — Blank Dimensions for Relief

A reliable rule of thumb is to make the blank at least twice the relief depth — keep the carving within the top half of the board so at least as much uncarved wood remains below the deepest point. That backing stops the panel warping or cupping. For a 15mm medium relief, use a blank around 35mm thick; for a 25mm relief, around 55mm. This calculator takes the larger of (relief depth + 10mm background + 5mm waste) and (2 × relief depth + 5mm waste).

Lime (linden) is the traditional choice for relief carving in Europe - it is soft, even-grained, and holds fine detail. Jelutong and basswood are also excellent. For harder, more durable carvings, use cherry or walnut. Avoid open-grained woods like oak for fine detail.

Low relief (bas-relief) has a depth of 10mm or less with forms barely projecting from the background. Medium relief is 10-25mm with clearly defined forms. High relief (alto-relief) is 25mm+ where figures may be nearly fully rounded and undercut.

A border of 15-25mm around the carving provides a visual frame and gives you material to clamp to during carving. The border can be left flat, moulded, or carved with a decorative edge. Always start with a blank larger than the final design.