A method for forming an image contains steps of: transferring a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 5 .mu.m or less to a recording medium as a toner image having a monochromatic maximum toner mass per area of 0.35 mg/cm.sup.2 or less; and fixing the toner image at a surface temperature of a fixing roll which is 130.degree. C. or less. The toner preferably has 0.02 log(Pa)/.degree. C. or less of a gradient of a storage, elasticity per temperature in a temperature range of from Tm+20.degree. C. to Tm+50.degree. C. Here, Tm represents a melting temperature of a crystalline resin contained in the crystalline toner.