An image forming method of using image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor; a charger to charge a surface of the photoreceptor; a circulating agent applicator to apply a circulating agent, being a material capable of being repeatedly formed on a surface and then discharged from the surface of the photoreceptor, to the surface of the photoreceptor while contacting the surface of the photoreceptor with a contact member to form a film of the circulating agent on the surface of the photoreceptor; and means for contacting a contact member (3C; 17) onto the surface of the photoreceptor, for forming the film of the circulating agent as a circulating outermost layer comprising: forming a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor whilst it is moving; applying the circulating agent as the circulating outermost layer to the surface of the moving photoreceptor such that the area of defects in the film measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS analysis is less than 10% of the film area, and the mass thickness of the film is not less than one, and less than three, molecular layers; and contacting the contact member (3C; 17) onto the surface of the moving photoreceptor, using an acting force on the photoreceptor which has a tangential force component Ft, in a tangential direction to the surface of the photoreceptor, and a normal force component Fn, in a normal direction to the surface, and satisfies the following relationships: 0.90 ≤ Ft / Fn ≤ 0.96, and 1.15 kgf ≤ Ft ≤ 1.35 kgf; wherein Ft = fx. cosθ- fy. sinθ and Fn = fx. sinθ - fy. cosθ, fx being the load in a width or air surface direction of the contacting means, fy being the load in a thickness or cut surface direction of the contacting means, and θ being the angle of contact onto the surface of the photoreceptor. a photoreceptor; a charger to charge a surface of the photoreceptor; a circulating agent applicator to apply a circulating agent, being a material capable of being repeatedly formed on a surface and then discharged from the surface of the photoreceptor, to the surface of the photoreceptor while contacting the surface of the photoreceptor with a contact member to form a film of the circulating agent on the surface of the photoreceptor; and means for contacting a contact member (3C; 17) onto the surface of the photoreceptor, for forming the film of the circulating agent as a circulating outermost layer comprising: forming a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor whilst it is moving; applying the circulating agent as the circulating outermost layer to the surface of the moving photoreceptor such that the area of defects in the film measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS analysis is less than 10% of the film area, and the mass thickness of the film is not less than one, and less than three, molecular layers; and contacting the contact member (3C; 17) onto the surface of the moving photoreceptor, using an acting force on the photoreceptor which has a tangential force component Ft, in a tangential direction to the surface of the photoreceptor, and a normal force component Fn, in a normal direction to the surface, and satisfies the following relationships: 0.90 ≤ Ft / Fn ≤ 0.96, and 1.15 kgf ≤ Ft ≤ 1.35 kgf; wherein Ft = fx. cosθ- fy. sinθ and Fn = fx. sinθ - fy. cosθ, fx being the load in a width or air surface direction of the contacting means, fy being the load in a thickness or cut surface direction of the contacting means, and θ being the angle of contact onto the surface of the photoreceptor. forming a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor whilst it is moving; applying the circulating agent as the circulating outermost layer to the surface of the moving photoreceptor such that the area of defects in the film measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS analysis is less than 10% of the film area, and the mass thickness of the film is not less than one, and less than three, molecular layers; and contacting the contact member (3C; 17) onto the surface of the moving photoreceptor, using an acting force on the photoreceptor which has a tangential force component Ft, in a tangential direction to the surface of the photoreceptor, and a normal force component Fn, in a normal direction to the surface, and satisfies the following relationships: 0.90 ≤ Ft / Fn ≤ 0.96, and 1.15 kgf ≤ Ft ≤ 1.35 kgf; wherein Ft = fx. cosθ- fy. sinθ and Fn = fx. sinθ - fy. cosθ, fx being the load in a width or air surface direction of the contacting means, fy being the load in a thickness or cut surface direction of the contacting means, and θ being the angle of contact onto the surface of the photoreceptor. wherein Ft = fx. cosθ- fy. sinθ and Fn = fx. sinθ - fy. cosθ, fx being the load in a width or air surface direction of the contacting means, fy being the load in a thickness or cut surface direction of the contacting means, and θ being the angle of contact onto the surface of the photoreceptor.