Method for producing a printing substrate for direct printing onto a decorative panel, comprising the steps of providing a plate-shaped carrier; applying a resin layer onto the plate-shaped carrier; applying a paper or non-woven fabric layer onto the plate-shaped carrier; and calendering the resulting layered structure at a temperature between ≥40° C. and ≤250° C.; wherein after the calendering process a resin composition is applied, which comprises between ≥0.5 wt.-% and ≤85 wt.-% of a solid material having a mean grain diameter d50 between ≥0.1 μm and ≤120 μm.