An image forming material, a lithographic printing plate precursor and a lithographic printing method, in which a color image with good visibility is obtained by laser exposure, are provided, wherein the image forming material and the lithographic printing plate precursor each comprising a support and a layer comprising a compound represented by formula (1) which changes from a colorless state to a colored state by the effect of heat; and a lithographic printing method comprising on-press development using the lithographic printing plate precursor: ##STR00001##