Patent ID: 6963711

Claim:
A developing method for developing an electrophotographic image by use of a developing device comprising a developing mechanism having a developer carrier for carrying a developer along a preset circulating route including a developing area and a developer restricting element for restricting the developer on the developer carrier, and a developer supply mechanism having storing means for the developer, wherein said developing method comprises the steps of: using a start-up developer at an initial state of use of the developing mechanism; and using a replenishing developer differed in grain size or grain size distribution from the start-up developer after an end of the initial state of use of the developing mechanism, wherein, when number percentage of a fine powder component of 5 μm or less in the start-up developer is Ndu and number percentage of a fine powder component of 5 μm or less in the replenishing developer is Ntc, the grain size distributions of the start-up developer and replenishing developer satisfy the following relational expressions: Ndu≦20.0%, and 20.0%<Ntc≦25.0%.