Image forming apparatus with holding unit that holds a recording medium

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an annular intermediate transfer body having an outer surface on which an image is transferred;
• a transferring unit including:
• a transfer cylinder having a transfer area at which the transfer cylinder sandwiches a recording medium with the outer surface of the annular intermediate transfer body to transfer the image from the outer surface of the annular intermediate transfer body to the recording medium, and
• a pair of first rotating bodies disposed on both axial end sides of the transfer cylinder;
• a pair of circulating members each being wound around the first rotating body and being circulated;
• and
• a holding unit attached to the circulating members, the holding unit configured to hold the recording medium, transport the recording medium with circulation of the circulating members, and pass the recording medium through the transfer area,
• wherein the image to be transferred at the transfer area is a superimposed image of a plurality of colored images.