Image forming method

An image forming method comprising:

• a) imagewise heating, or imagewise exposing, an image forming material to a laser with a wavelength of 700 to 1200 nm;
• and
• b) developing the exposed or heated material with a developer,
• wherein the image forming material comprises a support and provided thereon, a radiation sensitive layer containing a dye having an absorption band in the wavelength region of from 700 nm to 1200 nm, an acid generating compound capable of generating an acid on irradiation of heat or actinic light, and an acid decomposable compound having a bond capable of being decomposed by an acid, the acid decomposable compound being decomposed by an acid to produce a diol compound containing an ethylene glycol component or a propylene glycol component, and wherein the dye is a cyanine dye represented by formula (2or (3):
• wherein Z1 and Z2 independently represent a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or an oxygen atom;
• X1 and X2 independently represent a non-metallic atomic group necessary to form a benzene or naphthalene ring, which may have a substituent;
• R3 and R4 independently represent a substituent;
• R5, R6, R7 and R8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms;
• and L represents a linkage with a conjugated bond having 5 to 13 carbon atoms.