Windows Low-Level Graphics
I'm new to programming. I do know C/C++ and the basics of Win32. I am now trying to do graphics, but I want the fastest connection to the screen. I realize most are going with Opengl or DirectX. But, I don't want the overhead. I want to start from scratch and control the pixel data. I know about GDI bitmap, but I'm not sure if this is best access to the data. I know that I have to talk through windows, which is the trouble. Do Opengl and DirectX compile down to the level of GDI or is there a special way they do it, do they bypass or use similar code? Please, Don't ask why I want to do this. Maybe an explanation of how this is done might help. Like how windows combines all windows to create the final image. 
Windows Low-Level Graphics
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I'm new to programming. I do know C/C++ and the basics of Win32. I am now trying to do graphics, but I want the fastest connection to the screen. I realize most are going with Opengl or DirectX. But, I don't want the overhead. I want to start from scratch and control the pixel data. I know about GDI bitmap, but I'm not sure if this is best access to the data. I know that I have to talk through windows, which is the trouble. Do Opengl and DirectX compile down to the level of GDI or is there a special way they do it, do they bypass or use similar code? Please, Don't ask why I want to do this. Maybe an explanation of how this is done might help. Like how windows combines all windows to create the final image. 