Digital BW, The Print

Chris,

>... More often than not I finish with a sepia, silver, palladium or 
> other tone ...

>... The Epson r220 (or 1280/2200) with MIS inks sounds 
> like a very affordable and high quality solution, 
> but if I understand correctly (and I'm not at all sure I do) 
> I would lose the ability to print toned photos.
 
> Or at least I would have to learn a different method than 
> I am using now (working in RGB color space).

With MIS B&W pigments you can "tone" prints, within limits.  For sample
tones see http://home1.gte.net/res0a2zt/V-tone.html

The UT-R2 inkset has 2 tones of ink -- neutral/cool (depending on paper) and
carbon.  The workflow that most use is to put in different combinations of
neutral and carbon carts to achieve the tone, including split tone, that you
want for the particular photo.  For more inforation on the R2 inkset, see
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/R220_R2_Readme.pdf 

The variable-tone inksets like the UT2 do this with curves.  See, for
example, http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT2-Readme.htm

The UT2 and UT7 inksets have a range form cool to sepia.  The UT-R2 and 3D
normal warm end is carbon, which is about half way to sepia.  The UT2/UT7
sepia ink, however, can be used with either inkset in the 220 or other
printer to make a sepia print.

For more information on the inksets and workflows I've been involved with,
see my index at http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

Hope this helps you get into B&W printing.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com