An image forming method includes discharging ink containing water, a coloring material, a polymerization initiator, and a polymerizable compound to a recording medium by a line head to obtain an image, exposing the image to active energy radiation, applying a processing fluid to the image, and drying the image with heat, wherein the time interval between when the ink is discharged in the discharging from the line head to the recording medium passing under a bottom portion of the line head and when the recording medium is exposed to the active energy radiation in the exposing is from 0.5 to 15 seconds.