The project I'm working on will have several image layers that need to be quickly updatable without having to redraw the entire stack of layers. I understand that Direct 3d is usually the best way to do this?

The best analogy to use would be a graphics editor that supports layers (and sub-layers) that can be individually moved/edited/otherwise modified by the user. I'd like to do this without having to redraw otherwise unaffected layers.

Ideally, I'd like to update the images via a Graphics object or at the very least, using an array of pixels that I can attach a Graphics object to. All of the layers must support alpha transparency.

Can somebody point me in the right direction towards a Managed Direct 3d tutorial specifically for this?