An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with a uniform density includes a toner carrier, an opposing electrode, a high voltage power source for supplying a voltage to generate potential difference between the toner carrier and the opposing electrode, a control electrode arranged between the toner carrier and the opposing electrode and having a plurality of electrodes, and a control power source unit for implementing a plurality of potential states to each of the electrodes of the control electrode. The control electrode includes an insulating substrate, the plurality of electrodes provided on the insulating substrate and having passage portions for the toner, and a dielectric layer formed on a side facing the opposing electrode such that attracting force Fc attracting the toner adhered on the surface of the control electrode facing the opposing electrode is made smaller than attracting force Fb attracting the toner adhered on the opposing electrode. The control power supply unit includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a surface of a recording medium conveyed on the opposing electrode by applying prescribed potentials to respective ones of the plurality of electrodes and an electric field applying unit for applying an electric field of which electric field direction changes between the opposing electrode and the control electrode and which ensures that an electric force FE received by the toner adhered on the control electrode is greater than the attracting force Fc and that the force FE is smaller than the attracting force Fb.