Abstract: A method of forming images on an image receiving material including a non-contact thermal fusing image fixing step employs a black toner made of black toner particles, a yellow toner made of yellow toner particles, a magenta toner made of magenta toner particles and a cyan toner made of cyan toner particles, the black toner particles having a greater volume mean diameter than the volume mean diameter of the toner particles of any of the yellow toner, the magenta toner and the cyan toner.

Abstract: A toner including a colorant and a binder resin, wherein the ratio of a melt viscosity .eta.120 of the toner at 120.degree. C. to a melt viscosity .eta.100 of the toner at 100.degree. C. is greater than 0.06 and less than 0.15. An image forming method is provided which includes the steps of forming a toner image on a receiving material with the toner and heating the toner image to fix the toner image. Provided that the toner image has a gloss y when a heating temperature in the heating step is x, the gloss y preferably changes depending on the heating temperature x such that the relationship between the gloss y and the heating temperature x, y=f(x), is within the range between a line 1, f(x)=0.08x-6, and a line 2, f(x)=0.6x-50.

Abstract: An image forming method including the steps of providing a black toner, a yellow toner, a magenta toner and a cyan toner, wherein each toner includes a binder resin, a colorant and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains a silica, and wherein the content by weight of the external additive in the black toner is greater than any one of those in the yellow, magenta and cyan toner; developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member with one of the toners to form a toner image; repeating the developing operation mentioned above using the other toners; transferring the toner images to a receiving material; and heating the toner images using a non-contact fixing device to fix the toner images.

Abstract: A color developer is described that contains a toner and a resin-coated carrier, wherein the toner contains a hydrophobic particulate titania and a charge controlling agent, and the charge controlling agent contains an aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid metal salt having the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein each of Q and Q' each independently represents a residual group of an aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid optionally substituted with an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, or an alkyl group and an aralkyl group; X is a counter ion; and M is a metal. A toner is also provided that contains the above charge controlling agent.

Abstract: A process for forming a dot image on a recording medium, a surface of the recording medium having a characteristic in which a receding contact angle decreases when the recording medium is heated under a condition in which a liquid is in contact with the surface of the recording medium. The process includes the steps of forming a latent image having a plurality of dots, and developing the latent image by a liquid recording agent relative to which the recording medium is moved in a moving direction, wherein each of the dots making the latent image has a triangular shape becoming narrower in a direction opposite to the moving direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a recording medium having a recording layer which has a characteristic in which a receding contact angle decreases when the recording layer is heated in a condition where the recording layer is in contact with a liquid, the recording medium being moved by an external driving mechanism in a predetermined direction, a supplying head for supplying a liquid to a predetermined area on a surface of the recording layer of the recording medium, the supplying head comprising a narrow path for leading the liquid to the surface of the recording layer due to a capillary attraction, and a thermal head for selectively heating the surface of the recording layer of the recording medium in accordance with image information, wherein an area on the surface of the recording layer is heated and brought in contact with the liquid so that the area changes to a liquid adhesive area, and wherein a visible image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the recording layer

Abstract: A process of the present invention forms an image on a recording medium, a surface of the recording medium having a characteristic in which a receding contact angle decreases when the recording medium is heated under a condition in which a liquid is in contact with the surface of the recording medium. The process includes following steps of: bringing a liquid into contact with the surface of the recording medium; selectively heating the surface of the recording medium in accordance with image information, whereby an adhesion area having the receding contact angle corresponding to a temperature on the surface of the recording medium heated is formed, as a latent image, on the surface of the recording medium; and adhering a solid ink to the adhesion area so that the latent image formed on the recording medium is developed.