24mm-thick specimens from three species of plantation-grown softwood were press dried under two platen pressures of 1.75kgf/$cm^2$ and 3.50kgf/$cm^2$ to obtain drying information regarding to drying rate, thickness shrinkage and drying defects. The influence of platen pressure on drying fare in range of moisture content (30 to 10 percent) increased for pitch pine and larch, but reduced for korean white pine at higher pressure. Thickness shrinkage was increased at the higher pressure, and estimated thickness shrinkage at final MC of 10 percent became unrealistically greater for specimens containing higher final moisture content under the great influence of compressive strain. The effects of pressure on the amount of surface checks and honeycombing were different from species used. These species should have applied lower temperature than 177$^{circ}C$ in this study to reduce surface checks and honeycombing.