Digital BW, The Print

Barbara,

Welcome.  I am a newbie too, although less so than you.  Yes, it is
very overwhelming to grasp what is going on here, because of the
level of sophistication of most of the folks and the inherent
confusingness of this whole digital B&W printing issue. Fortunately
people are very patient and helpful.  I'll pay dues for all the 
people who've helped me and try to summarize what I've learned.
Hopefully I will be corrected if I mis-state ...

First, since your printer is dye-based, you cannot get archival
prints without changing inks.  You will also not be able to get
satisfactory results without getting some additonal software
(instead of the Epson driver).

In my opinion, the UltraTone inks are the way to go.  Ok,
I've never used them.  But they are very highly
thought of here and I plan to try them soon.  But the MAIN reason
I'd recommend the UT inks is that there seems to be a lot of
support for using them with the two excellent and free after-market
print drivers that are available.  These are QuadToneRIP (QTR) and
OPM/IJC.  The former runs only under Mac-OSX and Linux.  The latter
runs only under Mac-OS9, but an OSX version is rumored to be on the
way.  Also, with QTR, you need Version 7 or CS of Photoshop (it will
not work running Version 6 or earlier under Classic mode).

I don't think you mentioned what sort of computer you are using.
If you are on a PC, you have a dilemna, with 3 unpleasant ways out:
get a cheap Mac to run OPM/IJC or QTR;  load Linux on your PC; or
spring for $500 or so for ImagePrint (another after-market driver).

My plan, partially implemented, is to run QuadToneRIP (and maybe
OPM/IJC when it comes out) on my Mac G4 running OSX and Photoshop-CS.
These give quite nice results with Epson's UltraChrome inks (but
alas, you don't have access to those).  But when the UT-2 inks
become available, I'll probably switch to those.  The cartidges
appear to be about the same price as the Epson UltraChrome ones.

Then there's the whole issue of what paper to use.  Epson Enhanced
Matte (aka. Archival Matte, and abbreviated EEM and/or EAM) is 
nice looking and cheap and a great way to start.  But supposedly it
yellows fairly quickly.  Hahnemuhle PhotoRag is much better but
insanely expensive.  Supposedly Moab Entrada is a great compromise
of quality and price but I haven't tried it (yet).  These are all
matte papers, which I think look great. Glossier papers are
problematic, but supposedly UT-2 will work better on them.  There's
also a variety of sprays, and a polyurethane coating technique, to
give a glossier finish to the matte papers; but that's a whole 
'nother discussion.

Hope this helps.

John