Alkyd-based ink vehicles and ink compositions

This invention relates to alkyd-based resins for improving the wetting and drying properties of ink vehicles and ink compositions containing such vehicles, and to ink vehicles and ink compositions containing the resins. The specification discloses improved alkyd-based ink vehicles for lithographic inks. An ink vehicle according to the invention may contain a rosin ester resin, an ink solvent and from about 1 to about 30% by weight alkyd resin comprising the reaction product of a monounsaturated cyclic diacid anhydride, a polyol and a tall oil fatty acid. The ink vehicle enables faster ink drying and improved pigment wetting without significant adverse affects on other properties of ink formulations such as misting and volatility.