An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method
includes steps of conveying a developer comprising a toner to a
developing zone by a developing roller, and developing an electrostatic
latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrying member by
the developer, and the developing roller has an electroconductive shaft
and a resin layer provided around the shaft, the resin layer comprises a
surface layer containing silicone copolymer resin as the principal
component and a layer containing resin-silica hybrid composite as a
principal component provided directly under the surface layer.