Image forming method, image forming apparatus, and recorded matter

An image forming method, comprising:

• applying a pre-treatment liquid on a recording medium comprising a substrate and a coating layer disposed at least on one surface of the substrate, wherein the pre-treatment liquid is applied on a surface of the recording medium with the coating layer;
• drying the recording medium on which the pre-treatment liquid has been applied;
• and
• forming an image on the recording medium after drying by discharging a water-based ink by inkjet method,
• wherein the pre-treatment liquid comprises water, a water-soluble cationic polymer, an ammonium salt of an organic acid in an amount of 10% by mass to 40% by mass and selected from the group consisting of ammonium lactate, ammonium propionate, ammonium oxalate, ammonium tartrate, ammonium succinate (diammonium succinate), diammonium malonate, ammonium malate, ammonium citrate, diammonium hydrogen citrate, triammonium citrate and ammonium L-glutamate such that the water-soluble cationic polymer and the ammonium salt of the organic acid are present in a total amount of 40% by mass to 70% by mass, and
• wherein the water-based ink comprises water and negatively charged colored particles including a colorant.