An image forming apparatus includes a semiconductor laser unit for emitting a laser beam, a photosensitive drum which rotates in a first direction, a scanning optical system for making the laser beam scan the photosensitive drum in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein an electrophotography process is carried out on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a data generator for generating intensity data for each dot in an image in accordance with image information supplied from an external controller, and a laser driver for outputting a driving signal which drives the semiconductor laser unit, the driving signal having a pulse width and a level for each dot in an image, the pulse width being a predetermined value less than a value corresponding to an interval between adjacent dots formed in a direction parallel to the first direction, and the level corresponding to the intensity data generated by the data generator.