This invention relates to an improvement in a substrate web coated with a thermosetting coating resin and optionally impregnated with an aminoplast resin, in particular a web of paper, for the surface finishing of woodwork panels or laminates, the improvement that the coating resin is a modified polyester resin, composed of (a) 60 to 95% by weight of a hardenable polyester resin, (b) 1 to 15% by weight of a cross-linking agent for the polyester resin, (c) 5 to 40% by weight of a thermoplastic containing predominantly linear, high-molecular weight, reactive groups, (d) 1 to 15% by weight of a monomer with at least one polymerizable double bond and at least one group which reacts with the reactive group of the thermoplastic, and (e) a hardening catalyst, and optionally dyes, pigments and/or fillers. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a synthetic resin coated substrate web.