| abstract |
The present invention relates to a toner, a developer, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method. In accordance with some embodiments, a toner including a first binder resin, a release agent, a release agent dispersing resin, and a colorant is provided. The first binder resin includes an amorphous polyester resin (a) having a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid skeleton in its main chain. The polyhydroxycarboxylic acid skeleton comprises optically-active monomers having an optical purity X of 80% by mole or less. The optical purity X is represented by the following formula: X (% by mole)=|X(L-form)-X(D-form)|, wherein X(L-form) and X(D-form) represent ratios (% by mole) of L-form and D-form optically-active monomers, respectively. The release agent includes an ester of a fatty acid having an average carbon number of 18 to 24 with glycerin or a polyglycerin having an average polymerization degree of 2 to 10. The ester has a melting point of 55 to 80 DEG C. |