Patent ID: 8016406

Claim:
An image-forming method comprising: forming an image on a recording medium using (a) a first aqueous ink comprising (1) water, (2) a water-insoluble coloring material, and (3) a plurality of water-soluble organic solvents, (b) a second aqueous ink comprising a water-insoluble coloring material, and (c) a reaction liquid capable of making the state of dissolution or dispersion of the water-insoluble coloring material in the first aqueous ink unstable upon contact with the first aqueous ink, wherein the first aqueous ink and the second aqueous ink have the same hue, wherein, of the first aqueous ink and the second aqueous ink, only the first aqueous ink is applied to an area of the recording medium where an aqueous ink is applied so as to contact with the reaction liquid, wherein at least the second aqueous ink is applied to an area of the recording medium where the reaction liquid is not applied, wherein the plurality of water-insoluble organic solvents in the first aqueous ink include a good medium for the water-insoluble coloring material and a poor medium for the water-insoluble coloring material, and wherein the ratio B/A in the first aqueous ink is more than the ratio B/A in the second aqueous ink, where A denotes the total content (mass %) of good medium based on the total mass of the aqueous ink and B denotes the total content (mass %) of poor medium based on the total mass of the aqueous ink.