A color image forming process which comprises developing color photographic printing paper comprising a support having provided thereon a silver halide emulsion layer containing a monodisperse silver chlorobromide emulsion of up to 20 % in degree of variability spectrally sensitized with at least one compound represented by general formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV) for not longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds with a color developer containing substantially no benzyl alcohol which is unfavorable from the viewpoint of environmental pollution. In processing the color paper, stable color images with high coloration density can be obtained with less fogging even by development for a time as short as not longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds using a benzyl alcohol-free color developer.