A method for the production of an improved water soluble resin binder for laminating printing inks has been discovered. The method comprises esterifying the carboxylated Diels Alder adduct produced from the reaction of rosin and at least one carboxylated dienophile with a sufficient amount of at least one polyol to produce a modified rosin having an acid number greater than 157. The modified rosin is reacted with a sufficient amount of an acrylic copolymer having an acid number greater than 180 under esterification conditions between 175 ° C. and 185 ° C. for a time sufficient to produce a resin binder having an acid number greater than 157. A laminating ink formulation of the invention comprises water, pigment, styrene-acrylic varnish, shellac varnish, alkanol and the improved water soluble resin binder of the invention as described above.