An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations and a transferring device. Each image forming station includes an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic image and a developing device for developing the electrostatic image with toner. The transferring device transfers toner images formed by the plurality of image forming stations to a transferring medium. The plurality of image forming stations include a transparent image forming station using transparent toner and color image forming stations using, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. The transparent image forming station includes a cleaning device that is in contact with the image carrier and picks up residual toner on the image carrier. The developing devices of the color image forming stations develop electrostatic images on the corresponding image carriers and simultaneously pick up residual toners on the corresponding image carriers.