Blank DC

My brother and I are working on a game and ran into problems about the best way to draw into the viewhole; We're currently using BitBlt, but there are two methods:
1.) Making the one background DC; with the 1600x1200 background in it while doing math IF THENs to determine if we need to draw anything into that viewhole;
or
2.) load several DC's such as Background, Character's, Objects...

But if we do that, how can I create a blank DC that will be the same size as the original?

Get my idea? or am I thinking too hard, any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance...
jason