Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member; a toner image forming unit which repeatedly forms plural toner images in the image bearing member; a detection toner image forming unit which forms a detection toner image in an inter-image area between the toner image and the toner image on the image bearing member; a transfer member which is in contact with an area in the image bearing member through intervention of a recording material, the toner image being formed in the area, the transfer member being in contact with the inter-image area with no recording material, the transfer member electrostatically transferring the toner image formed in the image bearing member to the recording material; a detecting unit which detects the detection toner image on the image bearing member; a controlling unit which variably controls a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming unit based on the detection result; and a toner removing unit which forms a cleaning electric field to remove ton