This paper discusses the effect of alkyd resin composition on the emulsification of fountain solution into heat-set printing ink oil. Data on interfacial tension and initial droplet size are reported. The initial droplet size of emulsions formed by mixing fountain solution and printing ink oil containing alkyd resin is strongly dependent on concentration and type of alkyd resin. Addition of non-ionic surfactant to the aqueous solution decrease the fountain solution - oil interfacial tension but have no significant effect on droplet size. Addition of isopropyl alcohol to the aqueous phase resulted in smaller droplets. Higher concentrations of isopropyl alcohol gave smaller droplets. The interfacial tension between water and oil containing alkyd resin decreases with alkyd resin concentration and polarity. This suggests that the alkyd resin orients at the interface with polar groups in the water and apolar segments in the oil. The alkyd resin then acts as an emulsifier and stabilises the emulsion.