An image forming method comprising: primarily transferring step for transferring to an intermediate transfer member a toner image formed on a photosensitive member, secondary transferring step for transferring to a transfer material the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member, and after the secondary transferring step, cleaning step for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member by bringing a cleaning means into contact with the intermediate transfer member, wherein; said cleaning means is a fur brush or a charging roller, characterized in that based on measuring the maximum displacement quantity and elastic displacement quantity of the toner and intermediate transfer member with an ultra-microhardness meter ENT1100, manufactured by Elionix Co., said intermediate transfer member has a maximum displacement quantity (Sb) in the range of from 0.10 μm to 1.00 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Eb) of 50 % or more which is represented by the following expression: Eb = Sb − Ib × 100 / Sb where Ib represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the intermediate transfer member against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; a toner which forms the toner image has an average circularity of from 0.920 to 0.960 in its particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 2 μm or more, has a maximum displacement quantity (St) in the range of from 0.06 μm to 0.24 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Et) of from 25 % to 60 % which is represented by the following expression: Et = St − It × 100 / St where It represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the toner against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; and the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the following conditional expression: 75 % ≤ Eb + Et ≤ 135 %. primarily transferring step for transferring to an intermediate transfer member a toner image formed on a photosensitive member, secondary transferring step for transferring to a transfer material the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member, and after the secondary transferring step, cleaning step for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member by bringing a cleaning means into contact with the intermediate transfer member, wherein; said cleaning means is a fur brush or a charging roller, characterized in that based on measuring the maximum displacement quantity and elastic displacement quantity of the toner and intermediate transfer member with an ultra-microhardness meter ENT1100, manufactured by Elionix Co., said intermediate transfer member has a maximum displacement quantity (Sb) in the range of from 0.10 μm to 1.00 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Eb) of 50 % or more which is represented by the following expression: Eb = Sb − Ib × 100 / Sb where Ib represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the intermediate transfer member against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; a toner which forms the toner image has an average circularity of from 0.920 to 0.960 in its particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 2 μm or more, has a maximum displacement quantity (St) in the range of from 0.06 μm to 0.24 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Et) of from 25 % to 60 % which is represented by the following expression: Et = St − It × 100 / St where It represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the toner against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; and the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the following conditional expression: 75 % ≤ Eb + Et ≤ 135 %. based on measuring the maximum displacement quantity and elastic displacement quantity of the toner and intermediate transfer member with an ultra-microhardness meter ENT1100, manufactured by Elionix Co., said intermediate transfer member has a maximum displacement quantity (Sb) in the range of from 0.10 μm to 1.00 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Eb) of 50 % or more which is represented by the following expression: Eb = Sb − Ib × 100 / Sb where Ib represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the intermediate transfer member against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; a toner which forms the toner image has an average circularity of from 0.920 to 0.960 in its particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 2 μm or more, has a maximum displacement quantity (St) in the range of from 0.06 μm to 0.24 μm against a load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N, and has an elastic deformation percentage (Et) of from 25 % to 60 % which is represented by the following expression: Et = St − It × 100 / St where It represents the plastic displacement quantity (μm) of the toner against the load of 9.8 x 10 -5 N; and the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the following conditional expression: 75 % ≤ Eb + Et ≤ 135 %.