The invention discloses water-based acrylic resin with high distinctness of image. The water-based acrylic resin is prepared from the following raw materials: an acrylic monomer, a styrene monomer, an initiator, a chain transfer agent, a solvent and a mixed solution, wherein the mixed solution is prepared from glycidyl versatate and vinyl versatate in a mass ratio of 2.5: 1. The preparation method comprises the following steps: adding 80% of solvent into a reaction kettle, heating and preserving heat; mixing an acrylic monomer, a styrene monomer, a chain transfer agent and 90% of an initiator, and dropwise adding the mixture into the reaction kettle; dropwise adding a mixed solution composed of glycidyl versatate and vinyl versatate, and carrying out heat preservation; adding the residual solvent and initiator, preserving heat, cooling to 90-95 DEG C, dropwise adding an amine neutralizer solution, dispersing at a high speed, slowly dropwise adding deionized water at 90-95 DEG C, and carrying out reversed-phase emulsification to obtain the water-based acrylic resin. The waterborne acrylic resin provided by the invention can improve the gloss of the resin, reduce the viscosity of the resin, and improve the flexibility, impact resistance and water resistance of a paint film.