Patent ID: 7374854

Claim:
An image-forming method, comprising: pseudo-halftone-processing an input signal corresponding to image information to generate an output signal; irradiating a radiation beam corresponding to the output signal onto the surface of a latent image-holding member to form a latent image; developing the latent image with a developer including a toner containing a binder resin and a colorant to form a toner image on the surface of the latent image-holding member; transferring the toner image onto a recording medium; and fixing the toner image on the recording medium to form an image, wherein: when a halftone image is formed as the image, the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image-holding member by the pseudo-halftone processing is composed of a plurality of toner aggregates scattered like dots on the surface of the latent image-holding member; the diameter of the radiation beam irradiated onto the surface of the latent image-holding member is 35 μm or more; the pseudo-halftone processing results in the toner aggregates, which have been transferred onto the recording medium, having uneven sizes; and the toner satisfies the following Formulae (1) and (2): 2.0×10 5 ≦G ′(60)≦4.0×10 6 Formula (1) G ′(60)/ G ′(80)≦40 Formula (2) wherein in Formulae (1) and (2), G′(60) represents the storage modulus (Pa) of the toner as determined under conditions of a temperature of 60° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a distortion factor of 0.1%; and G′(80) represents the storage modulus (Pa) of the toner as determined under conditions of a temperature of 80° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a distortion factor of 0.1%.