PURPOSE: To provide an image forming method capable of obtaining an image having high quality and good density gradation, being excellent in environmental stability and capable of obtaining the high-quality image equal to that in an early stage even when the image is outputted for a long time.

CONSTITUTION: In this image forming method using the reversal development in which the reversal development is executed with a specified developer for developing an electrostatic charge image; assuming that the thickness (d) of a developer layer on a developer carrier is 20-150μm, the closest distance L between an electrostatic latent image holding body and the developer carrier is twice or less as long as (d), the absolute value of alternating electric field Vpp impressed on the developer carrier is 500-1000V, the value of VL of an electrostatic latent image in the maximum image density formed on the electrostatic latent image holding body with the developer carrier as reference is 150-500V and further when Vm=Vpp /2-VL, 0<Vm/L≤1.5 holds.