An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of movable image carriers, a movable intermediate transfer body, and a contacting member separably contacting to the intermediate transfer body at a contacting position. A position for transfer between a first image carrier and the intermediate transfer body defines a first transfer position. A position for transfer between a second image carrier and the intermediate transfer body defines a second transfer position. A toner image formed on said intermediate transfer body is again transferred onto a transfer material after passing through said first transfer position and said second transfer position. The latent image formation on the first image carrier is done at a time different from a contacting operation of the contacting member.