I first tried the GNOME printer setting panel to add the network printer but that failed with a “Failed to add new printer.” message.

The following is how I got everything installed to be able to print from my Arch linux to Epson ET-2800.

1. Install Cups

sudo pacman -S cups

You can find details at https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/cups/

Then enable and start the cups service.

sudo systemctl enable cups.service
sudo systemctl start cups.service

2. Install Epson Printer Drivers

yay -S epson-inkjet-printer-escpr epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2

AUR package details at https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/epson-inkjet-printer-escpr and https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2

3. Add Printer Via Cups Web Interface

1. Load browser to http://localhost:631/

2. Click ‘Administration’ link that should take you to http://localhost:631/admin

3. Click ‘Add Printer’

4. Select the printer under the ‘Discovered Network Printers’

5. Input the connection URI of your printer. Mine was lpd://192.168.1.199/queue

   1. I got the IP address of the printer by noting the address when adding usingprinter settings in the GNOME settings app failed.

6. Fill in details, give name, select model on the next few screens.

7. Confirm it is working with a print test page by selecting ‘Print Test Page’ on the ‘Maintenance’ dropdown on the printer detail page.

4. Print!

Now you can print all the things!

The printer should also show up in the Settings -> Printers panel as well.