Image-forming process and image-forming apparatus

An image-forming process forming an image on a transfer material comprising a developing step of obtaining a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image holder surface using a layer of a developer containing at least a toner on the surface of a developer holder, a 1st transfer step of transferring the toner image onto the surface of an intermediate transfer member, a 2nd transfer step of transferring the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer member onto the surface of a 2nd transfer material, and a fixing step of fixing the toner image on the surface of the transfer material, wherein

• the toner contains at least toner particles and inorganic fine particles,
• the inorganic fine particles transfer from the toner to the electrostatic latent image holder surface and attach thereto, and the attached amount of the inorganic fine particles to the electrostatic latent image holder surface is from about 1 to 20% by the average occupied area ratio (CAV) in the electrostatic latent image holder surface, and
• the difference (CMAX−CMIN) of the maximum occupied area ratio and the minimum occupied area ratio of the inorganic fine particles attached to the electrostatic latent image holder surface is not larger than about 5%.

An image-forming apparatus of forming an image on the surface of a transfer material comprising a developing unit of obtaining a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image holder surface using a layer of a developer containing at least a toner on the surface of a developer-holding member, a 1st transfer unit of transferring the toner image onto the surface of an intermediate transfer member, a 2nd transfer unit of transferring the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer member on to the surface of a 2nd transfer member, and a fixing unit of fixing the toner image on the surface of the 2nd transfer member, wherein

• the toner contains at least toner particles and inorganic fine particles,
• the inorganic fine particles transfer from the toner to the electrostatic latent image holder surface and attach thereto, and the attached amount of the inorganic fine particles to the electrostatic latent image holder surface is from about 1 to 20% by the average occupied area ratio (CAV) in the electrostatic latent image holder surface, and
• the difference (CMAX−CMIN) of the maximum occupied area ratio and the minimum occupied area ratio of the inorganic fine particles attached to the electrostatic latent image holder surface is not larger than about 5%.