Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image with developer;
• an optical writing device to expose the photoconductor with light, the optical writing device including:
• a first light emitter to irradiate the photoconductor with a first light of a first color;
• a second light emitter to irradiate the photoconductor with a second light of a second color;
• a reflector having multiple reflection faces to rotate to deflect:
• the first light emitted from the first light emitter;
• and
• the second light emitted from the second light emitter,
• to scan the photoconductor with the first light and the second light in one direction;
• a synchronization detector to detect the first light and the second light to detect a writing start timing of the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor;
• and
• circuitry configured to:
• output a light-emission control signal to the first light emitter and the second light emitter to control light emission state of the first light emitter and the second light emitter;
• output multiple gain control signals corresponding to the first light emitter and the second light emitter;
• select one gain control signal from the multiple gain control signals as a gain selection signal based on the light-emission control signal;
• and
• switch a gain of the synchronization detector based on the one gain control signal selected among the multiple gain signals.