An image forming apparatus is provided, including an electrostatic latent image bearer; a charger charging the electrostatic latent image bearer; an irradiator irradiating the electrostatic latent image bearer with image wise light having an image resolution not less than 1,200 dpi to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; an image developer developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image on the electrostatic latent image bearer; a transferer transferring the toner image onto a recording medium; and a fixer fixing the toner image on the recording medium, wherein a time for a given point on the electrostatic latent image bearer to travel from a position right in front of the irradiator to a position right in front of the image developer is shorter than 50 msec and longer than a transit time of the electrostatic latent image bearer.