diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/libkwineffects
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/effects
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tabbox
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/platformsupport
     )
 
 add_subdirectory( libkwineffects )
@@ -410,7 +411,6 @@
    unmanaged.cpp
    scene.cpp
    scene_opengl.cpp
-   scene_qpainter.cpp
    screenlockerwatcher.cpp
    thumbnailitem.cpp
    lanczosfilter.cpp
@@ -625,6 +625,7 @@
 
 install(TARGETS kwin_wayland         ${INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS} )
 
+add_subdirectory(platformsupport)
 add_subdirectory(plugins)
 
 ########### install files ###############
diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "overlaywindow.h"
 #include "scene.h"
 #include "scene_opengl.h"
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
 #include "screens.h"
 #include "shadow.h"
 #include "useractions.h"
@@ -249,10 +248,6 @@
             // Do not Fall back to XRender - it causes problems when selfcheck fails during startup, but works later on
             break;
         }
-        case QPainterCompositing:
-            qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "Initializing QPainter compositing";
-            m_scene = SceneQPainter::createScene(this);
-            break;
         default:
             qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "No compositing enabled";
             m_starting = false;
diff --git a/data/org_kde_kwin.categories b/data/org_kde_kwin.categories
--- a/data/org_kde_kwin.categories
+++ b/data/org_kde_kwin.categories
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@
 kwin_xkbcommon KWin xkbcommon integration
 kwin_qpa_plugin KWin QtPlatformAbstraction plugin
 kwin_scene_xrender KWin XRender based compositor scene plugin
+kwin_scene_qpainter KWin QPainter based compositor scene plugin
diff --git a/platformsupport/CMakeLists.txt b/platformsupport/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platformsupport/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+add_subdirectory(scenes)
diff --git a/platformsupport/scenes/CMakeLists.txt b/platformsupport/scenes/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platformsupport/scenes/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+add_subdirectory(qpainter)
diff --git a/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+set(SCENE_QPAINTER_BACKEND_SRCS backend.cpp)
+
+include(ECMQtDeclareLoggingCategory)
+ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(SCENE_QPAINTER_BACKEND_SRCS
+    HEADER
+        logging.h
+    IDENTIFIER
+        KWIN_QPAINTER
+    CATEGORY_NAME
+        kwin_scene_qpainter
+    DEFAULT_SEVERITY
+        Critical
+)
+
+add_library(SceneQPainterBackend STATIC ${SCENE_QPAINTER_BACKEND_SRCS})
+target_link_libraries(SceneQPainterBackend Qt5::Core)
diff --git a/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/********************************************************************
+ KWin - the KDE window manager
+ This file is part of the KDE project.
+
+Copyright (C) 2013 Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*********************************************************************/
+#ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_BACKEND_H
+#define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_BACKEND_H
+
+class QImage;
+class QRegion;
+class QSize;
+class QString;
+
+namespace KWin {
+class OverlayWindow;
+
+class QPainterBackend
+{
+public:
+    virtual ~QPainterBackend();
+    virtual void present(int mask, const QRegion &damage) = 0;
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the OverlayWindow used by the backend.
+     *
+     * A backend does not have to use an OverlayWindow, this is mostly for the X world.
+     * In case the backend does not use an OverlayWindow it is allowed to return @c null.
+     * It's the task of the caller to check whether it is @c null.
+     *
+     * @return :OverlayWindow*
+     **/
+    virtual OverlayWindow *overlayWindow();
+    virtual bool usesOverlayWindow() const = 0;
+    virtual void prepareRenderingFrame() = 0;
+    /**
+     * @brief Shows the Overlay Window
+     *
+     * Default implementation does nothing.
+     */
+    virtual void showOverlay();
+    /**
+     * @brief React on screen geometry changes.
+     *
+     * Default implementation does nothing. Override if specific functionality is required.
+     *
+     * @param size The new screen size
+     */
+    virtual void screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size);
+    /**
+     * @brief Whether the creation of the Backend failed.
+     *
+     * The SceneQPainter should test whether the Backend got constructed correctly. If this method
+     * returns @c true, the SceneQPainter should not try to start the rendering.
+     *
+     * @return bool @c true if the creation of the Backend failed, @c false otherwise.
+     **/
+    bool isFailed() const {
+        return m_failed;
+    }
+
+    virtual QImage *buffer() = 0;
+    /**
+     * Overload for the case that there is a different buffer per screen.
+     * Default implementation just calls buffer.
+     * @param screenId The id of the screen as used in Screens
+     * @todo Get a better identifier for screen then a counter variable
+     **/
+    virtual QImage *bufferForScreen(int screenId);
+    virtual bool needsFullRepaint() const = 0;
+    /**
+     * Whether the rendering needs to be split per screen.
+     * Default implementation returns @c false.
+     **/
+    virtual bool perScreenRendering() const;
+
+protected:
+    QPainterBackend();
+    /**
+     * @brief Sets the backend initialization to failed.
+     *
+     * This method should be called by the concrete subclass in case the initialization failed.
+     * The given @p reason is logged as a warning.
+     *
+     * @param reason The reason why the initialization failed.
+     **/
+    void setFailed(const QString &reason);
+
+private:
+    bool m_failed;
+};
+
+} // KWin
+
+#endif
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.cpp
copy from plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
copy to platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
+++ b/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  KWin - the KDE window manager
  This file is part of the KDE project.
 
-Copyright (C) 2015 Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
+Copyright (C) 2013 Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
 
 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -17,35 +17,52 @@
 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 *********************************************************************/
-#ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_FB_BACKEND_H
-#define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_FB_BACKEND_H
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include "backend.h"
+#include <logging.h>
 
-#include <QObject>
+#include <QtGlobal>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
-class FramebufferBackend;
 
-class FramebufferQPainterBackend : public QObject, public QPainterBackend
+QPainterBackend::QPainterBackend()
+    : m_failed(false)
 {
-    Q_OBJECT
-public:
-    FramebufferQPainterBackend(FramebufferBackend *backend);
-    virtual ~FramebufferQPainterBackend();
+}
 
-    QImage *buffer() override;
-    bool needsFullRepaint() const override;
-    bool usesOverlayWindow() const override;
-    void prepareRenderingFrame() override;
-    void present(int mask, const QRegion &damage) override;
+QPainterBackend::~QPainterBackend()
+{
+}
+
+OverlayWindow* QPainterBackend::overlayWindow()
+{
+    return nullptr;
+}
 
-private:
-    QImage m_renderBuffer;
-    QImage m_backBuffer;
-    FramebufferBackend *m_backend;
-};
+void QPainterBackend::showOverlay()
+{
+}
 
+void QPainterBackend::screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(size)
 }
 
-#endif
+void QPainterBackend::setFailed(const QString &reason)
+{
+    qCWarning(KWIN_QPAINTER) << "Creating the QPainter backend failed: " << reason;
+    m_failed = true;
+}
+
+bool QPainterBackend::perScreenRendering() const
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
+QImage *QPainterBackend::bufferForScreen(int screenId)
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(screenId)
+    return buffer();
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 endif()
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandDrmBackend MODULE ${DRM_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend kwin Libdrm::Libdrm)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend kwin Libdrm::Libdrm SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 if(HAVE_GBM)
     target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend gbm::gbm)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
 *********************************************************************/
 #ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_DRM_BACKEND_H
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_DRM_BACKEND_H
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 #include <QObject>
+#include <QVector>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 )
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandFbdevBackend MODULE ${FBDEV_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandFbdevBackend kwin)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandFbdevBackend kwin SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 install(
     TARGETS
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@
 *********************************************************************/
 #ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_FB_BACKEND_H
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_FB_BACKEND_H
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 
 #include <QObject>
+#include <QImage>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(VIRTUAL_SOURCES HEADER logging.h IDENTIFIER KWIN_VIRTUAL CATEGORY_NAME kwin_platform_virtual DEFAULT_SEVERITY Critical)
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend MODULE ${VIRTUAL_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend kwin)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend kwin SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 if(HAVE_GBM)
     target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend gbm::gbm)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@
 #ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_VIRTUAL_BACKEND_H
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_VIRTUAL_BACKEND_H
 
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 
 #include <QObject>
+#include <QVector>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 endif()
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend MODULE ${WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend kwin KF5::WaylandClient)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend kwin KF5::WaylandClient SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 if(HAVE_WAYLAND_EGL)
     target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend Wayland::Egl)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@
 #ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_WAYLAND_BACKEND_H
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_WAYLAND_BACKEND_H
 
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 
 #include <QObject>
+#include <QImage>
+#include <QWeakPointer>
 
 namespace KWayland
 {
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 )
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandX11Backend MODULE ${X11BACKEND_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend eglx11common kwin X11::XCB)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend eglx11common kwin X11::XCB SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 install(
     TARGETS
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
@@ -20,9 +20,13 @@
 #ifndef KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_X11_BACKEND_H
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_X11_BACKEND_H
 
-#include "scene_qpainter.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 
 #include <QObject>
+#include <QImage>
+#include <QVector>
+
+#include <xcb/xcb.h>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
diff --git a/plugins/scenes/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/scenes/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/scenes/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/scenes/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+add_subdirectory(qpainter)
 if( KWIN_BUILD_XRENDER_COMPOSITING )
     add_subdirectory(xrender)
 endif()
diff --git a/plugins/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+set(SCENE_QPAINTER_SRCS scene_qpainter.cpp)
+
+add_library(KWinSceneQPainter MODULE scene_qpainter.cpp)
+target_link_libraries(KWinSceneQPainter
+    kwin
+    SceneQPainterBackend
+)
+
+install(
+    TARGETS
+        KWinSceneQPainter
+    DESTINATION
+        ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.scenes/
+)
diff --git a/plugins/scenes/qpainter/qpainter.json b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/qpainter.json
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/qpainter.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+    "KPlugin": {
+        "Description": "KWin Compositor plugin rendering through QPainter",
+        "Id": "KWinSceneQPainter",
+        "Name": "SceneQPainter"
+    },
+    "CompositingType": 4
+}
+
diff --git a/scene_qpainter.h b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.h
rename from scene_qpainter.h
rename to plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.h
--- a/scene_qpainter.h
+++ b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.h
@@ -21,87 +21,13 @@
 #define KWIN_SCENE_QPAINTER_H
 
 #include "scene.h"
+#include <platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/backend.h>
 #include "shadow.h"
 
 #include "decorations/decorationrenderer.h"
 
 namespace KWin {
 
-class KWIN_EXPORT QPainterBackend
-{
-public:
-    virtual ~QPainterBackend();
-    virtual void present(int mask, const QRegion &damage) = 0;
-
-    /**
-     * @brief Returns the OverlayWindow used by the backend.
-     *
-     * A backend does not have to use an OverlayWindow, this is mostly for the X world.
-     * In case the backend does not use an OverlayWindow it is allowed to return @c null.
-     * It's the task of the caller to check whether it is @c null.
-     *
-     * @return :OverlayWindow*
-     **/
-    virtual OverlayWindow *overlayWindow();
-    virtual bool usesOverlayWindow() const = 0;
-    virtual void prepareRenderingFrame() = 0;
-    /**
-     * @brief Shows the Overlay Window
-     *
-     * Default implementation does nothing.
-     */
-    virtual void showOverlay();
-    /**
-     * @brief React on screen geometry changes.
-     *
-     * Default implementation does nothing. Override if specific functionality is required.
-     *
-     * @param size The new screen size
-     */
-    virtual void screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size);
-    /**
-     * @brief Whether the creation of the Backend failed.
-     *
-     * The SceneQPainter should test whether the Backend got constructed correctly. If this method
-     * returns @c true, the SceneQPainter should not try to start the rendering.
-     *
-     * @return bool @c true if the creation of the Backend failed, @c false otherwise.
-     **/
-    bool isFailed() const {
-        return m_failed;
-    }
-
-    virtual QImage *buffer() = 0;
-    /**
-     * Overload for the case that there is a different buffer per screen.
-     * Default implementation just calls buffer.
-     * @param screenId The id of the screen as used in Screens
-     * @todo Get a better identifier for screen then a counter variable
-     **/
-    virtual QImage *bufferForScreen(int screenId);
-    virtual bool needsFullRepaint() const = 0;
-    /**
-     * Whether the rendering needs to be split per screen.
-     * Default implementation returns @c false.
-     **/
-    virtual bool perScreenRendering() const;
-
-protected:
-    QPainterBackend();
-    /**
-     * @brief Sets the backend initialization to failed.
-     *
-     * This method should be called by the concrete subclass in case the initialization failed.
-     * The given @p reason is logged as a warning.
-     *
-     * @param reason The reason why the initialization failed.
-     **/
-    void setFailed(const QString &reason);
-
-private:
-    bool m_failed;
-};
-
 class KWIN_EXPORT SceneQPainter : public Scene
 {
     Q_OBJECT
@@ -240,6 +166,19 @@
     QImage m_images[int(DecorationPart::Count)];
 };
 
+class KWIN_EXPORT QPainterFactory : public SceneFactory
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::SceneFactory)
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Scene" FILE "qpainter.json")
+
+public:
+    explicit QPainterFactory(QObject *parent = nullptr);
+    ~QPainterFactory() override;
+
+    Scene *create(QObject *parent = nullptr) const override;
+};
+
 inline
 bool SceneQPainter::usesOverlayWindow() const
 {
diff --git a/scene_qpainter.cpp b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.cpp
rename from scene_qpainter.cpp
rename to plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.cpp
--- a/scene_qpainter.cpp
+++ b/plugins/scenes/qpainter/scene_qpainter.cpp
@@ -41,49 +41,6 @@
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-//****************************************
-// QPainterBackend
-//****************************************
-QPainterBackend::QPainterBackend()
-    : m_failed(false)
-{
-}
-
-QPainterBackend::~QPainterBackend()
-{
-}
-
-OverlayWindow* QPainterBackend::overlayWindow()
-{
-    return NULL;
-}
-
-void QPainterBackend::showOverlay()
-{
-}
-
-void QPainterBackend::screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size)
-{
-    Q_UNUSED(size)
-}
-
-void QPainterBackend::setFailed(const QString &reason)
-{
-    qCWarning(KWIN_CORE) << "Creating the XRender backend failed: " << reason;
-    m_failed = true;
-}
-
-bool QPainterBackend::perScreenRendering() const
-{
-    return false;
-}
-
-QImage *QPainterBackend::bufferForScreen(int screenId)
-{
-    Q_UNUSED(screenId)
-    return buffer();
-}
-
 //****************************************
 // SceneQPainter
 //****************************************
@@ -688,4 +645,22 @@
     Renderer::reparent(deleted);
 }
 
+
+QPainterFactory::QPainterFactory(QObject *parent)
+    : SceneFactory(parent)
+{
+}
+
+QPainterFactory::~QPainterFactory() = default;
+
+Scene *QPainterFactory::create(QObject *parent) const
+{
+    auto s = SceneQPainter::createScene(parent);
+    if (s && s->initFailed()) {
+        delete s;
+        s = nullptr;
+    }
+    return s;
+}
+
 } // KWin