<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000867374</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EFII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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        <reportingOwnerId>
            <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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            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the common stock of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The award is scheduled to vest contingent on the Company's achievement of specified levels of growth in revenue and revenue growth relative to a subset of companies from the Nasdaq composite index over a three-year performance period. The target number of restricted stock units subject to the award is reported in the table above. Subject to the performance-based vesting requirements and the reporting person's continued employment through the applicable vesting date, the award will vest between 0% and 150% of the target number of units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The award is scheduled to vest contingent on the Company's achievement of specified levels of growth in earnings per share relative to growth of cash from operations relative to non-GAAP operating income growth, over a three-year performance period. The target number of restricted stock units subject to the award is reported in the table above. Subject to the performance-based vesting requirements and the reporting person's continued employment through the applicable vesting date, the award will vest between 0% and 150% of the target number of units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This award is scheduled to vest with respect to one-third of the award on each of December 8, 2018, December 8, 2019, and December 8, 2020, subject to the reporting person's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marc Olin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
