A high pressure water jet is used in conjunction with a relatively low power laser to produce a smooth cut in a traveling web. The cutting procedures produces a relatively small amount of fiber dust in the atmosphere surrounding the cutting operation. The water jet severs the traveling web into separate parts, and the laser is directed to the severed edges to burn away the protruding ends of the paper fibers to produce a uniform, smooth cut in both severed edges. A trough is disposed on the side of the web opposite the water jet and laser to receive and collect the water severing the web and the fiber dust, and to diffuse the laser beam emissions.