To provide a developing method which improves quality related to directivity of development (meaning that the speed of a developing sleeve is higher than the moving speed of an electrostatic latent image) and an abnormal- image quality, that is reduces voids in the rear ends (1), breakages in horizontal lines (2), thickening of vertical lines (3), and reduction in sharpness (vertical thickening and horizontal thinning) of characters (4) and increases margin for carrier sticking (5) and obtains high image density without staining (6).

In a two-component developer development system, where a DC bias (VB) is applied, the distance of the closest part between a photosensitive body and the developing sleeve (where (developing gap) = Gp) is ≤0.6 mm, and a developer density ρp in the closest approach part is lower than 0.7×ρa, where ρa is the developer bulk density. ρp is J/Gp (cm) (ρp is called the 'density of developer' or 'Gp agent developer density' hereafter), and J is the quantity scooped up (g/cm2), and ρa is the developer density (g/cm3).