Image forming apparatus and method

An image forming method comprising:

• forming a latent image on a photothermographic imaging material by exposing a light beam to the photothermographic imaging material from a light source;
• thermal development including heating for thermally developing the photothermographic imaging material on which the latent image is formed, by heating, and cooling and conveying for conveying and cooling the thermally developed photothermographic imaging material;
• detecting at least one of a temperature in the thermal development and a temperature in the forming the latent image;
• and
• controlling a factor relating to thermal development on a basis of the detected temperature.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an exposure portion having a light source, for forming a latent image on a photothermographic imaging material by exposing a light beam to the photothermographic imaging material from the light source;
• a thermal development portion having a heating portion for thermally developing the photothermographic imaging material on which the latent image is formed, by heating, and a cooling and conveying portion for conveying and cooling the thermally developed photothermographic imaging material;
• a detecting member for detecting a quantitative processing history of the photothermographic imaging material thermally developed in the thermal development portion;
• and
• a control unit for controlling a factor relating to thermal development on a basis of the quantitative processing history detected by the detecting member.

An image forming method comprising:

• forming a latent image on a photothermographic imaging material by exposing a light beam to the photothermographic imaging material from the light source;
• thermal development including heating for thermally developing the photothermographic imaging material on which the latent image is formed, by heating, and a cooling and conveying for conveying and cooling the thermally developed photothermographic imaging material;
• detecting a quantitative processing history of the photothermographic imaging material thermally developed in the thermal development portion;
• and
• controlling a factor relating to thermal development on a basis of the detected quantitative processing history.