Image forming apparatus and image forming method

A first image forming unit includes a first developing unit that develops a latent image, and a second image forming unit includes a second developing unit that develops a latent image. A transfer unit transfers an image formed by at least one of the first and second image forming units onto a recording medium. A controller performs control to form a transfer image on the recording medium through at least one of a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation, images formed by the first and second image forming units are transferred onto the recording medium as transfer images. In the second operation, the image formed by the first image forming unit is transferred onto the recording medium as a transfer image. A stopping unit stops operation of the second developing unit when the number of transfer images formed through the second operation reaches a preset value.