diff --git a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
--- a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
+++ b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
@@ -251,6 +251,11 @@
     void startInteractivePositionSelection(std::function<void (const QPoint &)> callback) override {
         callback(QPoint(-1, -1));
     }
+    void showOnScreenMessage(const QString &message, const QString &iconName = QString()) override {
+        Q_UNUSED(message)
+        Q_UNUSED(iconName)
+    }
+    void hideOnScreenMessage() override {}
 
 private:
     bool m_animationsSuported = true;
diff --git a/effects.h b/effects.h
--- a/effects.h
+++ b/effects.h
@@ -234,6 +234,9 @@
     void startInteractiveWindowSelection(std::function<void(KWin::EffectWindow*)> callback) override;
     void startInteractivePositionSelection(std::function<void(const QPoint &)> callback) override;
 
+    void showOnScreenMessage(const QString &message, const QString &iconName = QString()) override;
+    void hideOnScreenMessage() override;
+
     Scene *scene() const {
         return m_scene;
     }
diff --git a/effects.cpp b/effects.cpp
--- a/effects.cpp
+++ b/effects.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "client.h"
 #include "cursor.h"
 #include "group.h"
+#include "osd.h"
 #include "pointer_input.h"
 #include "scene_xrender.h"
 #include "scene_qpainter.h"
@@ -1590,6 +1591,16 @@
     kwinApp()->platform()->startInteractivePositionSelection(callback);
 }
 
+void EffectsHandlerImpl::showOnScreenMessage(const QString &message, const QString &iconName)
+{
+    OSD::show(message, iconName);
+}
+
+void EffectsHandlerImpl::hideOnScreenMessage()
+{
+    OSD::hide();
+}
+
 //****************************************
 // EffectWindowImpl
 //****************************************
diff --git a/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.h b/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.h
--- a/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.h
+++ b/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.h
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@
     QRect m_cachedOutputGeometry;
     QPoint m_scheduledPosition;
     bool m_picking = false;
-    QScopedPointer<EffectFrame> m_infoFrame;
 };
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.cpp b/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.cpp
--- a/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.cpp
+++ b/effects/colorpicker/colorpicker.cpp
@@ -65,10 +65,6 @@
 {
     m_cachedOutputGeometry = data.outputGeometry();
     effects->paintScreen(mask, region, data);
-
-    if (m_infoFrame) {
-        m_infoFrame->render(region);
-    }
 }
 
 void ColorPickerEffect::postPaintScreen()
@@ -116,28 +112,17 @@
 
 void ColorPickerEffect::showInfoMessage()
 {
-    if (!m_infoFrame.isNull()) {
-        return;
-    }
-    // TODO: turn the info message into a system wide service which performs hiding on mouse over
-    m_infoFrame.reset(effects->effectFrame(EffectFrameStyled, false));
-    QFont font;
-    font.setBold(true);
-    m_infoFrame->setFont(font);
-    QRect area = effects->clientArea(ScreenArea, effects->activeScreen(), effects->currentDesktop());
-    m_infoFrame->setPosition(QPoint(area.x() + area.width() / 2, area.y() + area.height() / 3));
-    m_infoFrame->setText(i18n("Select a position for color picking with left click or enter.\nEscape or right click to cancel."));
-    effects->addRepaintFull();
+    effects->showOnScreenMessage(i18n("Select a position for color picking with left click or enter.\nEscape or right click to cancel."), QStringLiteral("color-picker"));
 }
 
 void ColorPickerEffect::hideInfoMessage()
 {
-    m_infoFrame.reset();
+    effects->hideOnScreenMessage();
 }
 
 bool ColorPickerEffect::isActive() const
 {
-    return m_picking && ((m_scheduledPosition != QPoint(-1, -1)) || !m_infoFrame.isNull()) && !effects->isScreenLocked();
+    return m_picking && ((m_scheduledPosition != QPoint(-1, -1))) && !effects->isScreenLocked();
 }
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
--- a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
@@ -1229,6 +1229,23 @@
      **/
     virtual void startInteractivePositionSelection(std::function<void(const QPoint &)> callback) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Shows an on-screen-message. To hide it again use @link{hideOnScreenMessage}.
+     *
+     * @param message The message to show
+     * @param iconName The optional themed icon name
+     * @see hideOnScreenMessage
+     * @since 5.9
+     **/
+    virtual void showOnScreenMessage(const QString &message, const QString &iconName = QString()) = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * Hides a previously shown on-screen-message again.
+     * @see showOnScreenMessage
+     * @since 5.9
+     **/
+    virtual void hideOnScreenMessage() = 0;
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /**
      * Signal emitted when the current desktop changed.