A method for preparing a bismuth vanadate based pigment by (1) reacting an acidic bismuth nitrate solution with an alkaline ammonium metavanadate solution and optionally with other salts, to form a bismuth vanadate based precipitate in a highly acidic reaction medium with a pH of 1-2; (2) adding a base until the pH of the reaction medium is around 7; (3) raising the temperature to over 80 C in around 30 minutes while holding the pH at 7 by means of a base; (4) stirring for 30 minutes to over 2 hours until the pH is around 6.5; and (5) filtering, washing and drying the pigment. The resulting products and their use in dyeing paints, lacquers and/or plastics are also disclosed.