Image forming method and image forming apparatus

An image forming method, comprising:

• disposing a latent image-bearing member for holding an electrostatic image thereon and a toner-carrying member for carrying a magnetic toner with a prescribed gap at a developing station, the magnetic toner comprising a binder resin and magnetic powder and having a particle size distribution including 12% by number or more of magnetic toner particles of 5 microns or smaller, 33% by number or less of magnetic toner particles of 8-12.7 microns and 2% by volume or less of magnetic toner particles of 16 microns or larger so as to provide a volume-average particle size of 4-10 microns;
• conveying the magnetic toner in a layer carried on the toner-carrying member and regulated in a thickness thinner than the prescribed gap to the developing station;
• and
• applying an alternating bias voltage comprising a DC bias voltage and an asymmetrical AC bias voltage in superposition between the toner-carrying member and the latent image-bearing member at the developing station to provide an alternating bias electric field comprising a development-side voltage component and a reverse development-side voltage component, the development-side voltage component having a magnitude equal to or larger than that of the reverse development-side voltage component and a duration smaller than that of the reverse-development side voltage component, so that the magnetic toner on the toner-carrying member is transferred to the latent image-bearing member to develop the electrostatic image thereon at the developing station.