To provide an area coverage modulation image forming method excellent in color tone reproducibility and dot reproducibility.

The area coverage modulation image forming method by which halftone dots are reproduced as aggregates of minimum unit (dot) of image formation using a silver halide color photosensitive material, is characterised in that the silver halide color photosensitive material contains a dye forming coupler represented by formula (a-1) or (a-2).