An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member to bear an electrostatic latent image, which includes an outermost layer comprising a cross-linked resin composition; a toner developing mechanism to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image with a toner comprising a binder resin; a toner transferring mechanism to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording medium; and a fixing liquid applying mechanism to apply a fixing liquid to the recording medium onto which the toner image has been transferred or is to be transferred. The fixing liquid dissolves or swells at least a part of the binder resin to soften the toner.