An image forming method and apparatus for providing a primary transfer of a toner image formed on a photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member (8c), a secondary transfer of the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material, and, after the secondary transfer, a cleanup for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member by bringing a fur brush or a charging roller into contact with the intermediate transfer member, and wherein both the intermediate transfer member has a specific maximum displacement quantity (Sb) and a specific elastic deformation percentage (Eb) (%) and the toner which forms the toner image has a specific average circularity, a specific maximum displacement quantity (St) and a specific elastic deformation percentage (Et) (%), so that when measured with an ultra-microhardness meter ENT1100 from Elionix Co., the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the following conditional expression: 75 ≤ Eb + Et ≤ 135.