Patent ID: 7533983

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an ink ejection device which ejects a droplet of ink toward a recording medium, the ink including a solvent and a coloring material dissolved or dispersed in the solvent; a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid on the recording medium, the treatment liquid separating the coloring material from the solvent on the recording medium; a solvent absorbing device which absorbs the solvent on the recording medium; a solvent evaporating device which effects evaporation of the solvent on the recording medium by (1) directing heat from a heat source toward the recording medium or (2 ) generating a flow of air toward the recording medium; and a solvent removal selection device which selects one removal way of a first removal way where the solvent on the recording medium is removed by absorbing the solvent using the solvent absorbing device and then effecting evaporation of the solvent using the solvent evaporating device, and a second removal way where the solvent on the recording medium is removed by effecting evaporation of the solvent using the solvent evaporating device without using the solvent absorbing device.