Fatty acid esters of which the fatty acid constituents are fatty acids containing a total of 12 to 22 carbon atoms and of which the alcohol constituents are saturated and/or mono- or polyolefinically unsaturated monoalcohols containing a total of 1 to 22 carbon atoms, with the additional proviso that the fatty acid constituents of the esters contain saturated and/or mono- or polyolefinically unsaturated fatty acids and have a branched structure, isostearic acid being excluded as the fatty acid constituent of the esters, are suitable as solvents for printing inks.