Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming method of forming an image by scanning an image bearer with light from a light source, the image forming method comprising:

• supplying a pulse drive current according to image data to the light source, wherein
• an amplitude of a part of the pulse drive current corresponding to a specified pixel of the image data is larger than an amplitude of a part of the pulse drive current corresponding to a normal pixel of the image data that is a pixel other than the specified pixel,
• a pulse width of the part of the pulse drive current corresponding to the specified pixel is smaller than a pulse width of the part of the pulse drive current corresponding to the normal pixel,
• the light source is a semiconductor laser,
• the amplitude of the part of the pulse drive current corresponding to the normal pixel is a value obtained by summing a threshold current of the semiconductor laser and an additional current, and
• the amplitude of the part of the pulse drive current corresponding to the specified pixel is a value obtained by summing the threshold current and a value obtained by multiplying the additional current by a given value N (N>1).

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a light source;
• and
• circuitry configured to control the light source according to image information, wherein
• the circuitry is configured to cause a time during which the light source emits light to form a specified pixel of an image to be shorter than a time during which the light source emits light to form a normal pixel of the image that is a pixel other than the specified pixel,
• the circuitry is configured to cause an intensity of the light source to form the specified pixel to be larger than an intensity of the light source to form the normal pixel,
• the light source is a semiconductor laser,
• the intensity of the light source to form the normal pixel is a value obtained by summing a threshold current of the semiconductor laser and an additional current, and
• the intensity of the light source to form the specified pixel is a value obtained by summing the threshold current and a value obtained by multiplying the additional current by a given value N (N>1).