Various embodiments provide an API hooking mechanism to intercept drawing-related calls into a graphics interface, such as a Graphics Device Interface (GDI or GDI+), and redirect the calls to an alternate destination which is different from a destination intended by a calling application. By being aware of when a targeted window for redirection begins and ends drawing, and by being able to control which surfaces the targeted window is actually drawn to, various embodiments can present a compatible interface and control drawing of individual windows in a system on a specific window-by-window level. Redirection can take place at various levels of granularity including on a child window-by-child window basis.