-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IYOItQagNI603ks+4wCWlkx2lHOFn1Hil6MGnt9gTBkCPuk6A7GUjj0JpnBc5vhJ
 SRclK1+U1I8tS3Z6037GTA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001014111-05-000022.txt : 20050506
<SEC-HEADER>0001014111-05-000022.hdr.sgml : 20050506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050506122055
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001014111-05-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050506
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050506

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMATION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014111
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MAGNETIC & OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA [3695]
		IRS NUMBER:				411838504
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 IMATION PL
		CITY:			OAKDALE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55128
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6517044000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 IMATION PLACE
		CITY:			OAKDALE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55128

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	3M INFORMATION PROCESSING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960619

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REICH CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197748

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14310
		FILM NUMBER:		05806361

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3M CENTER
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 0220-14W-03
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55144-1000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001014111</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMATION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197748</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REICH CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IMATION CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 IMATION WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1398</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1602</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.72</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9402</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9402</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9402</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common stock vests 25% on each anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options vest 25% each year from grant date.  The date listed as exercisable date is first date that any options (the first 25%) are exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jennifer A. Tenenbaum, Power of Attorney for Chuck Reich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----