Fair warning:

[GregW]

Well, Simple Scan works on Mint. For documents only. Epson's software is the same. I can't find a way to do transparencies. Epson scan only goes up to 1200 DPI as well, they really stripped it down. Sane does not support either the v550 or v600. I did not try to find what chips are inside to search for a driver across the internet. I had luck doing that years ago with a different scanner. It irritates me that I have a driver loaded that only some programs recognize and not others. Oh, VueScan couldn't find the scanner as well. That is a purchase product, not sure how much.

 

[DrEntropy]

Disappointing. Looks like the scanner will in fact stay in Her office.

 

[GregW]

OK, I got it to work. Epson has two different programs and I chose the one that didn't work first. There is Image Scan v3 (didn't work, no negative option) and Image scan! which has all the bells and whistles. Including adjustments to gamma, shadows, highlights, etc. The address for that program is:
> Linux Scanner Driver Download | Epson <

 

[DrEntropy]

Thank you! Looks to be an older version, V550, but likely will work. I'll have to fuss withit.

 

[DrEntropy]

Been over a month now and the Linux software installed smoothly. But the scanner still resides on HER desk...

 

[GregW]

Time to put on the ninja outfit.