Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes a photosensitive layer that contains a charge generation material, a charge transport material, and a binder resin;
• a charging unit that charges a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor;
• an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor;
• a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a developer that contains a toner so as to form a toner image;
• and
• a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a surface of a recording medium,
• wherein a charge amount ΔQ(μC/m2), which is accumulated in the photosensitive layer by exposure conducted by using the electrostatic latent image forming unit, per unit area of the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charge potential VH(V) after the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is charged by using the charging unit, and an exposure potential VL(V) of a portion of the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor exposed by using the electrostatic latent image forming unit satisfy Formula (1):
• 20(V·m2/μC)≦[VH−VL](V)/ΔQ(μC/m2)≦60(V·m2/μC) Formula (1)