An image forming apparatus uses a two-component developer containing a
toner and a carrier. The apparatus has a latent image bearer for bearing
an electrostatic latent image. A toner bearer bears the toner to be
conveyed to a development region to develop the electrostatic latent
image. A developer bearer bears the two-component developer and supplies
the toner to the toner bearer. A regulator sets the thickness of a toner
layer carried on the toner bearer to 6 .mu.m to 15 .mu.m and sets a
difference between a half width of a first toner charge number
distribution as a number distribution of the charge amount of the toner
carried on the toner bearer and that of a second toner charge number
distribution as a number distribution of the charge amount of the toner
in the two-component developer carried on the developer bearer to 0.8
(10.sup.-10 C/m) or smaller.