 | Water Absorption | | The measure of the amount of water which will be soaked in. |
| Water Finish (Steam Finish) | | A high glossy finish produced by moistening one or both sides of the paper as it passes through the calender stack. |
| Watermark | | In papermaking, a design impressed on paper by the raised pattern of the dandy roll during manufacture. |
| Waterproof | | A relative term applied to papers which have been heavily treated or laminated to resist moisture. |
| Wax Coating | | The operation of applying a coating of paraffin or other wax to a sheet of paper. |
| Weatherability | | The capability of a pressure-sensitive label to withstand the effects of weather. |
| Weaving | | A poorly wound roll of tape in which the individual layers of tape are not in alignment with the other layers. |
| Web | | A continuous sheet of pliable manufactured material. |
| Web Tension | | The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper by the action of a web-fed press. |
| Webbing | | A condition of uneven adhesive transfer characterized by stringing of the adhesive from the applicator mechanism and the formation of dried adhesive film which clings to the applicator parts. |
| Wet-Strength | | The tensile strength of paper if it is wetted after manufacture. Wet strength is increased by adding certain synthetic resins to the furnish. |
| Wet Tensile Strength | | The tensile strength of a specimen of paper after it has been wetted with water under specified conditions. The wet strength may be of a more or less temporary nature, as in paper towels and tissues of a more permanent nature, as in bag papers, cookery parchment etc., where the paper is in contact with water for longer period of time. |
| Wetting | | The ability of an adhesive to flow uniformly over the laminated surface to which it is bonded. |
| Wicking | | Tendency of a liquid to travel through paper. |
| Winder | | Equipment located at the dry end of the paper machine to take the web from the reel, trim off the edges, wind into firm rolls and slit into several rolls if desired. |
| Wire Side | | That side of a paper which has come into contact with the wire of the paper machine during the process of manufacture |
| With the Grain | | Folding or feeding paper into a press parallel to the grain of the paper. |
| Wrap-Around Label | | Label that extends completely around bottle or can. |
| Wrinkles | | Distortion in the material represented by creases which interrupt the continuous, smooth nature of the web. Wrinkles can be encountered running in any direction on the web. |