it really depends on what you intend to do with the image itself. Many functions that handle drawing require a handle to the image in this case an HBITMAP. For a bitmap with multiple images i would suggest an image list (look into the ImageList_Create macro). it has functions that allow you to load a bitmap in sections based on the cx and cy (width and height) of the image list. for example if you specify a 32x32 image list then load a 320x32 bitmap into it you will end up with 10 images in the list. You can also use the image list for drawing (look into the ImageList_Draw and ImageList_DrawIcon functions). The most common way to draw a bitmap would be first obtain the dc (device context) to the window you wish to draw in. then create a similar dc (CreateCompatibleDC) then load the bitmap into the new dc (SelectObject). then call the BitBlt function specifying the new dc as HdcSrc and the windows dc as HdcDest. Note however that the next time the window recieves a WM_PAINT message (more importantly a WM_ERASEBKGND msg) what you have draw MUST be redrawn otherwise it will be overdrawn.
Depending on how you wish to display the image determines wich function to call. to specify that an image be drawn with its normal size or in a particular rectangle of the window BitBlt will do. to stretch the image look into StretchBlt. You could also use the CreatePatternBrush function if you wish to tile the image. You can of course use a combination of these functions to produce whatever affect you need. (note that the image list functions are much faster and offer alot of abilities and are typically easier for newer people to use).
I would suggest performing all of your drawing at once into the compatible dc BEFORE blit'ing it over this will reduce flicker (in most cases to nothing).
