To provide a liquid development device and an image forming apparatus where the reduction of the surface energy in a developer carrier caused by long term use and the lapse of time is suppressed, thus, there is no need of maintenance such as exchange therefor, further, a uniform, smooth developer thin layer is formed, and the generation of the unevenness in image density after development such as a rib pattern caused by the unevenness in the developer thin layer can be suppressed.

While using a roller as a developer carrier, its surface is suitably subjected to activation for increasing the surface energy, thus the reduction in the surface energy can be suppressed, and the generation of the unevenness in image density such as a rib pattern caused by the unevenness in a developer thin layer can be suppressed.

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