Xsane needs a little bit of preference configuration to get it working as a photocopier.

Here is my set-up:

• Ubuntu 9.10 with default Xsane install (0.996)
• CanoScan N650u (scanner)
• HP LaserJet 1200 (printer)

First, you need to know the name of your printer on your system. Run this command in a terminal to get it:

lpstat -a

which, on my set up, gives me:

HP-LaserJet-1200-2 acceptant des requêtes depuis ven 25 jun 2010 13:32:29 CEST

Then, in the menu Xsane > Preferences > Configuration (shortcut: [alt]-s ), under the “Copy” tab, give a name to your printer (any name is fine) and as a command, write this:

lpr -P the_name_of_your_printer_on_your_system

As an example, on my system, I had to write this:

lpr -P HP-LaserJet-1200-2

This should be sufficient to get it working.

Although, I also needed to deactivate the “create zlib compressed postscript image for printing” to get it working. But maybe you don't

To write this tutorial, I found some useful info on these pages:

• http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-566829.html
• http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/xsane (fr)
• http://xsane.org/doc/sane-xsane-setup-copy-doc.html