An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical image bearing member, an image forming device for forming an image on the image bearing member, a transfer unit for performing first image transfer of the image on the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer position, and a movable recording material carrying unit for conveying the recording material to the transfer position while carrying the recording material in order to perform the first image transfer. The recording material carrying unit further carries and conveys the recording material in order to perform second image transfer to the recording material after the first image transfer. The apparatus also includes a conveying unit for conveying the recording material to the recording material carrying unit. The recording material is first conveyed by the conveying unit to a position within the radius R of the image bearing member at the upstream side in a moving direction of the recording material carrying unit from the transfer position on the recording material carrying unit.