The invention provides a pattern forming method including providing a
polymerization initiation layer which is obtained by fixing, by a
cross-linking reaction, a polymer having functional groups having
polymerization initiation ability and cross-linking groups at side
chains, on a support, and forming a pattern including a preparation zone
and a non-preparation zone of a graft polymer by preparing the graft
polymer on the surface of the polymerization initiation layer using graft
polymerization, by contacting a compound having a polymerizable group on
the polymerization initiation layer and supplying energy imagewise; an
image forming method which applies the pattern forming method; a pattern
forming material; and a planographic printing plate. A fine particle
adsorption pattern forming method and a conductive pattern forming method
are also provided.