Image forming method

1. A method for forming an image with an ink-jet recorder provided with an ink-jet head, the method comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

ejecting a photo-acid generator solution through the ink-jet head on a recording material, provided that the photo-acid generator solution contains a cyclic ester solvent and a photo-acid generator without containing a photopolymerizable compound;

irradiating the ejected photo-acid generator solution on the recording material with actinic radiation rays;

ejecting an actinic radiation curable ink containing a colorant through the ink-jet head on the recording material to form an image; and

irradiating the image with actinic radiation rays so as to fix the formed image.

2. The method described in claim 1 ,

wherein the photo-acid generator solution has a viscosity of 1 to 13 mPa·s measured at 25° C.; and the actinic radiation curable ink has a viscosity of 15 to 50 mPa·s measured at 25° C.

3. The method described in claim 1 ,

wherein the photo-acid generator is represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2):

wherein, A represents S, O or CO; R 1 and R 2 each independently represent H, a straight alkyl group or a branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom; an alkylthio group, and an arylthio group; R 3 to R 5 each independently represent a straight alkyl group or a branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group which may have a substituent, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom; and X represents SbF 6 , PF 6 , AsF 6 , BF 4 , or the following group:

4. The method described in claim 1 ,

wherein an ejected amount of the photo-acid generator solution on the recording material is from 0.5 to 4.0 g/m 2 .

5. The method described in claim 1 ,

wherein the ink-jet recorder uses a line recording method and the method comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

imagewise ejecting the photo-acid generator solution through the ink-jet head on the recording material;

irradiating the imagewise ejected photo-acid generator solution on the recording material with actinic radiation rays;

ejecting the actinic radiation curable ink containing a colorant through the ink-jet head to the recording material to form an image, provided that an amount of the ejected actinic radiation curable ink is from 0.1 to 4.0 pl; and

irradiating the image with actinic radiation rays so as to fix the formed image.

6. The method for forming an image of claim 1 ,

wherein the cyclic ester solvent is selected from the group consisting of β-propiolactone, β-butyrolactone, α-methyl-β-butyrolactone, γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, δ-valerolactone, ε-caprolactone, γ-caprolactone, γ-heptanolactone and propylene carbonate.