Toner and image forming method

An image forming method, comprising, at least:

• a first developing step of developing a first electrostatic image held on an image bearing member with a first toner to form a first toner image on the image bearing member,
• a first transfer step of transferring the first toner image on the image bearing member onto a transfer member,
• a second developing step of developing a second electrostatic image held on the image bearing member with a second toner to form a second toner image on the image bearing member, and
• a second transfer step of transferring the second toner image on the image bearing member onto the transfer member already carrying the first toner image thereon;
• wherein
• at least said first toner comprises toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and a low-crystalline aromatic metal compound present at surfaces of the toner particles;
• said first toner has an average circularity of at least 0.955, and
• said low-crystalline aromatic metal compound has an X-ray diffraction characteristic free from peaks exhibiting a measurement intensity of at least 10000 cps and a half-value half-width of at most 0.3 deg. in a range of measurement angles 2θ of 6 to 40 deg.

An image forming method, comprising, at least:

• a charging step of charging an image bearing member;
• an exposure step of exposing the charged image bearing member to image light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image member,
• a developing step of developing the electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member with a layer of a toner carried on a toner-carrying member in contact with the image bearing member to form a toner image on the image bearing member, and
• a transfer step of transferring the toner image on the image bearing member to a transfer member, wherein
• said toner comprises toner particles each comprising at least a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and a low-crystalline aromatic metal compound present at surfaces of the toner particles;
• wherein said toner has an average circularity of at least 0.955, and
• said low-crystalline aromatic metal compound has an X-ray diffraction characteristic free from peaks exhibiting a measurement intensity of at least 10000 cps and a half-value half-width of at most 0.3 deg. in a range of measurement angles 2θ of 6 to 40 deg.