A developing device using a liquid developer removes developer using the contact-rotation between rollers such as a developing roller and thin layer forming roller when an image is not formed, and includes a contact pressure modification section that modifies the contact pressure in the contact region between rollers rotating in contact with one another. When operation is performed to remove the developer using the contact-rotation between rollers with the supply of liquid developer being suspended, modifications are made to ensure that the contact pressure in the contact region is smaller than that during image formation.