An image forming method includes applying an ink composition including water, a pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent and polymer particles to a recording medium at an application amount of the ink composition of 6 g/m2 or more with respect to the recording medium, drying by heating the recording medium to which the ink composition has been applied, cooling the recording medium which has been subjected to the drying by heating to reduce a temperature of the recording medium at least 5° C. from the temperature immediately after the drying by heating, applying a powder to the ink composition applied side of the recording medium which has been cooled, and stacking the recording medium to which the powder has been applied.