Digital BW, The Print

Derek,

>...I know I can make photoshop do magical things that will allow me 
>to replicate the kind of techniques I do in a darkroom. ...

That is an understatement.  Once you get hooked you'll probably never want
to go back.

>  The problem ... tweaking many different aspects of inks, ink 
>jets etc. ... multiple cleaning of ink delivery jets.  
>...  I don't really enjoy mixing chemicals. 

I don't think that is true of most.  People like me who enjoy the technical
end of the process hang you here, but you can just go the "plug and play"
route -- most do.

>Cleaning printer heads just doesn't do it for me.

Every once in a while I have to do a cleaning cycle or two, but the vast
majority of times the nozzle checks are perfect.

>Is there a stock off the shelf printer with 
>stock off the shelf ink supply in nifty little plug in modules that will 
>allow me to come close to duplicating my dark room work ...

I recommend buying an Epson 1280.  There are a number of alternative B&W
solutions available for it.  I use the MIS Ultra Tone inkset, for which
there is are ready-made sets of control curves that you apply in Photoshop
(or Picture Window) that control the inks, including the ink tones/hues.  I
think most people get good results with no tweaking of any curves.

The main difference I see in the B&W output is that the pigmented inks do
best on matte paper.  That has a different look than the wet darkroom prints
when not under glass.  Under glass, even if in a cheap acrylic snapshot
frame, they can look virtually identical to silver prints.

Enjoy the journey.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com