A roller is equipped with an elastic layer comprising a foam, wherein at least a part of the elastic layer is subjected to permanent compressional deformation by heating compression, and the cells in the elastic layer subjected to permanent compressional deformation by heating compression outnumber the cells therein before the heating compression; and a process for producing the above roller in high efficiency. The above process enables the production of the roller in which the surface state of only an arbitrary portion thereof is modified according to the purpose of use, and the roller thus obtained can exhibit high performances in a variety of applications including paper feed roller, developer conveying roller and so forth.