Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a first toner image forming section including a first image carrier and a first intermediate transfer member, wherein the first toner image forming section is operable to form a dark color toner image on the first image carrier and then transfer the dark color toner image onto the first intermediate transfer member to form a dark color toner image on the first intermediate transfer member;
• a second toner image forming section including a second image carrier and a second intermediate transfer member, wherein the second toner image forming section is operable to form a light color toner image on the second image carrier and then transfer the light color toner image onto the second intermediate transfer member to form a light color toner image on the second intermediate transfer member, wherein each light color toner image is less dark as compared with a dark color toner image belonging to the same color phase;
• and
• a transfer unit configured to contact with the first intermediate transfer member and to selectively contact with the second intermediate transfer member to transfer the composite dark and light color toner images from the first and second intermediate transfer members, respectively, to a recording material,
• wherein a first mode, the first and second toner image forming sections form the dark color toner image and the light color toner image, respectively, on the recording material, and
• wherein in a second mode, the transfer unit and the second intermediate transfer member are out of contact with each other, the second image carrier and the second intermediate transfer member of the second toner image forming section do not operate, and the first toner image forming section forms the dark color toner image on the recording material.