Patent ID: 7709174

Claim:
A toner, comprising: a colorant; a first binder resin; and a second binder resin, wherein an amount of the first binder resin and an amount of the second binder resin are phase separated from each other in the toner, wherein a phase of the first binder resin is partially covered with a phase of the second binder resin, wherein the surface of the toner comprises: the first binder resin forming a mother particle; and the second binder resin forming discontinuous and independent projections on the mother particle, and wherein the first binder resin has an exposure ratio (R) of from 20 to 70% when determined by the following formula: R =( La/L )×100 wherein R represents the exposure ratio of the first binder resin, La represents a sum of lengths of exposed portions of the first binder resin, and L represents a circumferential length of the toner, which are determined from a cross-sectional image of the toner obtained by a transmission electron microscope (TEM).