A method for setting the cutting pattern for pieces of wood such as logs, comprising the operating steps of: obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of a piece of wood; selecting a possible first virtual cutting pattern for the piece of wood which may allow one or more semi-finished products to be obtained from the piece of wood, said cutting pattern consisting of one or more virtual cutting surfaces,,; virtually applying the first virtual cutting pattern to the three-dimensional model of the piece of wood to obtain one or more virtual semi-finished products; repeating the selection and application steps for a plurality of different possible cutting patterns, each corresponding to one or more different virtual semi-finished products; comparing the virtual semi-finished products which can be obtained with the different cutting patterns and, on the basis of said comparison, selecting from the virtual cutting patterns one cutting pattern which will be used as the basis for proceeding with actual cutting of the piece of wood, the method being characterised: in that the step of obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of the piece of wood consists in obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of the density of the piece of wood, said three-dimensional model consisting of a plurality of basic volumes each having its own constant density; in that each of the one or more virtual semi-finished products has its own outer surface formed by the intersection of the one or more virtual cutting surfaces,, and a set of adjacent basic volumes amongst those forming the three-dimensional model; in that it also comprises the step of virtually associating, with at least part of the set of basic volumes forming the virtual semi-finished products, the corresponding density determined on the basis of the three-dimensional model; in that in the repeating step also the association step is repeated for the plurality of different possible cutting patterns; in that the step of virtually associating, with at least part of the set of basic volumes forming the virtual semi-finished products, the corresponding density determined on the basis of the three-dimensional model, involves associating the density with at least part of the basic volumes forming the outer surface of the one or more semi-finished products; in that the association step is carried out to virtually define the physical appearance of the semi-finished products; and in that the step of comparing the virtual semi-finished products which can be obtained with the different cutting patterns is carried out on the basis of the virtually defined physical appearance of the semi-finished products. obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of a piece of wood; selecting a possible first virtual cutting pattern for the piece of wood which may allow one or more semi-finished products to be obtained from the piece of wood, said cutting pattern consisting of one or more virtual cutting surfaces,,; virtually applying the first virtual cutting pattern to the three-dimensional model of the piece of wood to obtain one or more virtual semi-finished products; repeating the selection and application steps for a plurality of different possible cutting patterns, each corresponding to one or more different virtual semi-finished products; comparing the virtual semi-finished products which can be obtained with the different cutting patterns and, on the basis of said comparison, selecting from the virtual cutting patterns one cutting pattern which will be used as the basis for proceeding with actual cutting of the piece of wood, the method being characterised: in that the step of obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of the piece of wood consists in obtaining a virtual three-dimensional model of the density of the piece of wood, said three-dimensional model consisting of a plurality of basic volumes each having its own constant density; in that each of the one or more virtual semi-finished products has its own outer surface formed by the intersection of the one or more virtual cutting surfaces,, and a set of adjacent basic volumes amongst those forming the three-dimensional model; in that it also comprises the step of virtually associating, with at least part of the set of basic volumes forming the virtual semi-finished products, the corresponding density determined on the basis of the three-dimensional model; in that in the repeating step also the association step is repeated for the plurality of different possible cutting patterns; in that the step of virtually associating, with at least part of the set of basic volumes forming the virtual semi-finished products, the corresponding density determined on the basis of the three-dimensional model, involves associating the density with at least part of the basic volumes forming the outer surface of the one or more semi-finished products; in that the association step is carried out to virtually define the physical appearance of the semi-finished products; and in that the step of comparing the virtual semi-finished products which can be obtained with the different cutting patterns is carried out on the basis of the virtually defined physical appearance of the semi-finished products.