Patent ID: 8092965

Claim:
A method for forming an image comprising the steps of: (a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier; and (b) developing the electrostatic latent image by a two component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the two component developer is continually replenished in the developing step (b); and the toner comprises: colored particles; and external additive particles comprising a complex oxide incorporating silicon atoms and at least one of titanium atoms and aluminum atoms, and a surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R 2 ) in a surface of the external additive particles being larger than an average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R 1 ) in an entirety of the external additive particles, provided that the surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R 2 ) is defined as a value obtained from a weight of silicon atoms in the surface divided by the total weight of the silicon atoms, the titanium atoms and the aluminum atoms in the surface; and the average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R 1 ) is defined as a value obtained from a weight of silicon atoms in the entirety of the external additive particles divided by the total weight of the silicon atoms, the titanium atoms and the aluminum atoms in the entirety of the external additive particles.