whats the best way to convert a dwg file to an image file( ie. bmp, tif....) and what would be the best image type file to convert the dwg file too in order to email it someone so thatit would be legible with say a program like paint

If you want to send it to someone, PDF would be a far better format than any image file. Far better quality.

PDF is what I would have said but wondered if anyone would suggest anything different. You can't edit PDF's (as images), although why you'd want to...
One thing, I am increasingly being sent PDF files (as substitutes for paper reference drawings and to avoid sending CAD files which people are often loath to share), they are just a giant pain to plot compared with DWG's and serve only as an expedient for the sender. I refuse to use them in any number (70-odd for the latest job). The question is do all PDF's take something like 30 minutes to plot... on an A1 HP which does the same in DWG format in 1.5 minutes?

I quit plotting direct to the plotter. Now I plot to a pdf file using pdfcreator http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/
Then I send the pdf file to the plotter. The pdf is my archive copy. I quit saving paper copies years ago.

I find that sending a pdf file to the plotter is as quick as plotting.

Mars

Why do you do that? Is it so you don't have to recreate the plot parameters if it has to be plotted again later?
I have an impression how long a PDF takes to plot depends a lot how it was created. I created a couple which plotted quite fast but others I was sent took forever.

Thanks for the reply Now that leads me to my next ? how do i create a dwg file into a pdf and what

You need to set up a PDF plotter and plot to it.
Here is a free PDF plotter to try: http://www.pdf995.com/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/
This install a virtual ploter.
When print, choose from printer list PDF CREATOR. The result is a pdf file.