To provide an image forming apparatus (system) capable of stably providing an image with the quality equivalent to that of the offset printing, this image forming apparatus being applicable to use of a wide variety of printings in a small lot and use of variable and on-demand printings, by providing: an electrowetting process enabling an offset-like ink image to be formed; and a transfer process excellent in transfer characteristics of ink image.

The image forming apparatus excellent in transfer characteristics of ink image can be achieved in such a way that the image forming apparatus includes an ink image forming unit which forms an ink image on an image holding body at a position for development by causing the electrowetting effect, and a transfer unit which transfers the ink image on the image holding body onto a material to be printed with an image, and the electrowetting effect of the ink image is decreased in the transfer unit.