The present invention discloses a process and a method providing a high
bulk tissue which is both strong and soft. Specifically, it has been
discovered that certain low pressure printing technologies may be used to
deliver a bonding material to the surface of a high bulk paper web such
as an uncreped, through-dried web. The bonding material may be applied to
the web either before, during or after the web is softened with a
mechanical straining process which will decrease the web bulk by no more
than 20% of the initial bulk in order to increase the web softness. The
web may be softened by any of a variety of mechanical straining processes
such as, for instance, microcreping, microstraining, rush transfer, or
other low-compressive softening methods. The cured bonding material on
the web may not only increase the bulk of the web when dry and wet, but
also increase the wet resiliency and the wet strength of the web.