Digital BW, The Print

Hello all,

My name is Pierre and I am new to this group. In the past I dabbled in
B&W photography and wet development. As of late (2 years or so) I got
started in digital color photography and am getting interested in B&W
again.

My current workflow is:

CaptureOne LE > PSCS2 > Qimage > Epson 2200 (with canned ICC profiles)

I intend on profiling with Color Vision's PrintFIX Pro Suite and will
probably go with the following workflow:

CaptureOne LE > PSCS2 > Qimage > QuadToneRIP > Epson 2200 (custom ICC
profiles)

Right now I basically have no experience with QuadToneRIP and only a
little with Qimage but I have been using a color managed workflow for
a year or so now.

For piece of mind I would like to minimize the paper/ink combinations
and wish to be able to switch between Color/B&W prints on the fly so
dedicated inks is out of the question.

I currently use Epson Ultra Chrome (w/ PK) inks with Ilford Gallery
Smooth Pearl paper.

I am looking for paper recommendations to use with Epson Ultra Chrome
(w/ MK) inks that would provide the same kind of pleasing outputs that
I get now for Color prints. BTW I am partial to selenium toned prints.
 :o)

I would also appreciate finding out how you guys convert color images
to B&W.

I currently know of the following ways:

 - Desaturate (Pretty bad results)
 - Channel Mixer (This seems to give the best results)
 - ConvertToB&W PS Plugin (I have not tried it)

I am not really looking to buy more software so I guess home recipes
along the line of the Channel Mixer would do the trick.

Thanks,
Pierre