An image forming method includes forming at least one electrostatic charge image on at least one image holding member, developing the at least one electrostatic charge image using a black toner and a color toner to form toner images, transferring toner images to a receiving body, and fixing the toner images by light-irradiation fusing, the black toner being melted in the light-irradiation fusing, the color toner containing an infrared absorber, a light absorptance of the color toner at a peak wavelength of the light irradiated in the light-irradiation fusing being from about 79% to about 98% of a light absorptance of the black toner at the peak wavelength, and the color difference ΔE of the color toner due to the presence or absence of the infrared absorber is in a specific range.