An image forming method in which a toner-carrying member for carrying a specific magnetic toner is placed adjacent a latent image-bearing member for carrying an electrostatic latent image so as to form a developing region of a predetermined gap size. The magnetic toner on the toner-carrying member forms a toner layer of a regulated thickness smaller than the above-mentioned gap. An asymmetric bias is applied to the magnetic toner so as to cause the magnetic toner from the toner-carrying member to be conveyed to the latent image-bearing member thereby to develop the electrostatic latent image.