SOFT, EASILY DISPERSIBLE IRON OXIDE PIGMENTS ARE OBTAINED BY LAKING, I.E. PRECIPITATING, FRESHLY PREPARED FERROUS/FERRIC HYDROXIDE TOGETHER WITH ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, FILTERING, WASHING THE PRECIPITATE INORGANIC SALT-FREE, AND DRYING THE PRODUCT. WHEN INCORPORATED INTO SYNTHETIC RESIN SYSTEMS, E.G. THERMOSETTING ACRYLIC RESINS, PIGMENTED COATING COMPOSITIONS OF EXCELLENT FASTNESS CHARACTERISTICS AND TRANSPARENCY ARE OBTAINED.