Image forming apparatus

An image forming method of an image forming apparatus having an exposure device which forms an electrostatic latent image and a transfer belt which includes an endless belt supported by a roller, a toner image being transferred to the transfer belt, the toner image being obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, comprising:

• storing setting information related to positional deviation correction for correcting a deviation of an exposure position in the exposure device in a memory;
• executing, if an execution frequency setting of the positional deviation correction in the setting information is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the positional deviation correction by using an image pattern for positional deviation measurement that is formed to be equal to or larger than one cycle of the transfer belt;
• and
• executing, if the execution frequency setting of the positional deviation correction in the setting information is less than the predetermined value, the positional deviation correction by using an image pattern for positional deviation measurement that is formed to be smaller than the one cycle of the transfer belt.