Patent ID: 7398041

Claim:
A color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming units, each having an image bearing member for supporting a developer image formed with a developer corresponding to each color of color-separated image information; an intermediate transfer medium to which a multiple number of developer images are comprised in layers; and a transfer section for transferring the developer images that have been comprised in layers on the intermediate transfer medium, all at once, to a transfer medium, wherein the plurality of image forming units are arranged along the intermediate transfer medium, characterized in that among the developer images to be transferred from the image bearing members of the image forming units to the intermediate transfer medium, the developer for the developer image of the color to be transferred first is used to produce a base-layer of the color images of information, wherein the image forming unit for the developer image of the color to be transferred first is configured to form the base-layer by the addition of toner in an amount beyond the toner amount for forming the developer image such that the base-layer remains on the intermediate transfer medium following image transfer by the transfer section.