Using Epson Perfection 2400 USB Scanner under Linux Mandrake 9.2

Created : 15 April 2004

I have always wanted to convert my old print photos into digital form.  But being lazy and also because finding a good scanner that works under Linux wasn't that easy, I kept putting it off.  Finally I got some motivation and bought Epson Perfection 2400 Photo scanner after doing some research.  Here are the facts that made me buy this one

  • It works well under Linux & SANE.  Go the SANE status page and look this up, that status is COMPLETE!
  • Epson actually provides a software called iscan for Linux.  How nice!  Not only their product works with SANE, Epson went a step further and provided a software to be used under Linux!!  I wanted my money to go to a company that gives a damn about Linux.
  • The software provided works under Gimp as a plugin
  • The price was cheap : US $ 139  @ Circuit City & Amazon.
iscan.jpg

Steps

  • Downloaded iscan from Epson linux website.
  • did a
    urpmi iscan-1.8.0-2.i386.rpm
    urpmi also installed sane-backends-1.0.12-3mdk
  • typed 'iscan' in command line.  First got an error 'Can not send command to scanner'.  Corrected permissions on the scanner device by
    chmod 666 /dev/usb/scanner0
    Then it worked like a charm.  See the application window screen shot.
  • to use scanning within Gimp, link iscan to gimp plugins
    as root :
    ln -s /usr/bin/iscan  /usr/lib/gimp/1.2/plug-ins/
    or personal use :
    ln -s /usr/bin/iscan  ~/.gimp-1.2/plug-ins/
    Launch Gimp. Then select iscan from menu Xtns ->Acquire Image -> Iscan.
  • online manual is here
  • Have fun :-)
I was scanning pictures in less than 20 mins.  The scanner is fast and works great.  Even though I can use 'iscan' by itself, I mostly use it within gimp (ease of touching up, scalling and saving).

I am so glad I went with this one.

Trouble Shooting

  • If usb scanner isn't detected, do a
    modprobe -a usb-ohci
  • Also make sure /etc/sane.d/epson.conf file is in order
    I commented out SCSI and uncommented usb /dev/usb/scanner0