Abstract: Disclosed is a processing liquid for ink-jet recording that can produce clear as well as glossy images without occurrences of feathering even when printing is carried out on plain paper, and also that can afford high reliability without occurrences of clogging of ink-jet nozzles due to drying even when the processing liquid is allowed to stand for a long period; also disclosed are an ink set of the processing liquid and ink, and a cartridge containing the ink set, and, an image forming process and an image forming apparatus for ink-jet recording that utilize the processing liquid, ink set, and cartridge. The processing liquid for ink-jet recording according to the present invention comprises fine particles that react with a coloring material when the processing liquid contacts with a recording liquid that comprises the coloring material and water, and a water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of 210° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set which includes a combination of a recording liquid including a resin-coated colorant, and a treatment liquid including a particle which has a reactivity with the resin-coated colorant. The ink set can obtain a high quality image free from feathering and color bleeding, can obtain a high quality image even when used for printing on a plain paper sheet, can obtain a print excellent in wear resistance, can obtain a high image density without causing a deep permeation of a recording liquid in the paper sheet, can perform a favorable double-sided printing with a low image density when the image is viewed from an opposite face of an image print face, can be free from an image stain attributable to drying failure of the recording liquid, and can provide the print with a proper glossiness.