By adding slow drying agent, wax emulsion, cationic surface active agent into water-soluble varnish, new water-soluble varnish was compounded for experiments to study the impacts of leveling property, the addition of wax emulsion, surface tension and drying conditions on the friction resistance of water-soluble varnish. The results showed that different categories and contents of additives had different impacts on the friction resistance. The friction resistance of coating film could be improved by adding slow drying agent, wax emulsion, cationic surface active agent, while leveling property and rate of wax emulsion showed greatest impacts on the friction resistance. Addition of slow drying agent and first polish allowed enough time for leveling, the effect of leveling and friction resistance were good. Addition of wax emulsion and surface active agent decreased the external stress and improved the wetting ability of water-soluble varnish, therefore it improved the friction resistance too. With the extension of drying time, friction resistance could also be improved. Under the condition of drying time being 10 s for laser paper and 12 s for white cardboard, water-soluble varnish demonstrated optimal friction resistance performance.