I currently have this setup. Windows XP Desktop sharing an Epson Stylus Photo 785 EPX printer and running an ftp server that I perform my backups to.

Here is what I want to do. I have an xbox that I will be converting to run linux on (debian). I want this xbox to run an ftp server and share the printer. Forget the fact that it is an xbox and just consider it a standard debian linux installation. Would I need to use gimp-print, CUPS, samba, or what to do this setup sharing the printer. I also want the machine to be able to be used by a win 2k laptop and the Desktop XP as well. I would rather not install any additional software besides the printer drivers on the windows machines. I have used the gimp-print drivers under osx and they work very well for me. I guess I basically need to set-up a printer shared using the samba protocol so all windows machines can see it.

Any help in getting this working would be greatly appreciated.

The printer drivers won't even be so much of a concern because the processing will be handled by Windows -- just set up a RAW -type printer for it, and then share it with Samba. SWAT or Webmin will help you configure it.

a RAW type printer using what software? CUPS?

Is it not easier to set up a USB printer using CUPS and then share it using Samba? Am I wrong in assuming this?

Yes, using CUPS.

RAW or with a specific driver, it doesn't really matter since it won't be used -- the Windows machine handles the formatting of the data.