PURPOSE: To prevent flocculation and fusion and to enable formation of an image having ahigh grade by a nonmagnetic developer by forming a thin layer of the nonmagnetic developer and magnetic particles on a developer holding member spaced at a prescribed distance from a photosensitve body and performing development.

CONSTITUTION: A magnet 14 is fixed in a developer holding member 12 provided apart at a distance larger than the thickness of a thin layer from a latent image carrying body 11. A magnetic blade 15 and an iron piece 18 are provided in a vessel 13. When the member 12 rotates in an arrow (b) direction, the circulating motion toward an arrow (C) is generated by the magnetic brush formed by the magnet 14, the effect of gravity and the blade 15, by which the thin layer of magnetic particles and a nonmagnetic developer is formed on the member 12. The development is performed by such thin layer. The magnetic particles which are not transferred are recovered into a cleaning device. The image having a high grade is thus formed by the nonmagnetic developer without flocculation and fustion of said developer.