Abstract The deformation behavior of wet lignocellulosic fibers was examined by applying a dilute suspension of dyed pulp fibers to a filter paper and then wet pressing the fibers onto glass slides. The geometry of single fiber crossing was determined using light interference and an image analysis computer program. The effects of pulp type, refining, wet pressing, drying and bleaching on the deformation behavior of pulp fibers were explored. The main effect of refining fibers was to reduce the step height for fiber-fiber crossings for both bleached and unbleached pulps by increasing the tendency of the cell wall to collapse and deform. All the pulps and treatments investigated maintained a relatively constant value for the step height/free span ratio.