<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <periodOfReport>2016-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000867374</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EFII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001194503</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLIN MARC D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6750 DUMBARTON CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94555</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1824</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is voluntarily reporting the acquisition of shares of common stock of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  This transaction is also exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Upon vesting, each restricted stock unit was converted into one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares of common stock withheld by the issuer for tax purposes upon vesting of RSUs. This transaction is exempt under Rule 16b-3(e).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This is a performance-based award granted on February 4, 2015. A portion of this RSU award vested on the date on which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the &quot;Committee&quot;) calculated, reviewed and approved the Company's performance for the year ended December 31, 2015, based on the Company's achievement of the target revenue for such year.  The remainder of the award did not vest and was cancelled as of that date. Vesting of the award was subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This is a performance-based award granted on February 4, 2015. A portion of this RSU award vested on the date on which the Committee calculated, reviewed and approved the Company's performance for the year ended December 31, 2015, based on the Company's achievement of the target non-GAAP operating income for such year.  The remainder of the award did not vest and was cancelled as of that date. Vesting of the award was subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This is a performance-based award granted on August 15, 2013 with vesting contingent upon the achievement of specified revenue and non-GAAP operating income targets over a period of four consecutive quarters ending no later that the Company's fourth fiscal quarter of 2014, second fiscal quarter of 2016 and second fiscal quarter of 2017. In each case, vesting of the award is subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date. One third of this RSU vested on February 16, 2016 based on the Company's achievement of the target revenue and non-GAAP operating income growth levels for the applicable performance period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This is a performance-based award granted on August 15, 2014 with vesting contingent upon the achievement of specified revenue and non-GAAP operating income targets over a period of four consecutive quarters ending no later that the Company's fourth fiscal quarter of 2014, second fiscal quarter of 2016 and second fiscal quarter of 2017. In each case, vesting of the award is subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date. One third of this RSU award vested on February 16, 2016 based on the Company's achievement of the target revenue and non-GAAP operating income growth levels for the applicable performance period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marc Olin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
