An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic
latent image, a developer carrier that carries a two-component developer containing
toner and magnetic particles, and an electric field forming device that forms a
developing electric field to develop the electrostatic latent image with the toner
in a developing region where the developer carrier faces the latent image carrier.
A magnetic brush is formed by magnetically adsorbing the two-component developer
onto the surface of the developer carrier to develop the latent image with the
toner in the magnetic brush. A developing gap between the developer carrier and
the latent image carrier in the developing region is set so as not to press the
toner in the magnetic brush against the surface of the developer carrier that faces
a non-image portion of the latent image carrier and set so as not to fix the toner
onto the developer carrier.
