Tap and hold to reveal.
Hide any image on X.

Why does the trick work?

X generates a small thumbnail for every uploaded image. For transparent PNGs it flattens the picture onto a white background and shrinks it down. This tool splits the hidden parts of your image into a checkerboard of transparent and solid pixels. When X averages those pixels for the thumbnail, the result is a faint, washed-out picture that blends into the white timeline.

When someone taps and holds the image, X opens the original file on a black background. The transparent checkerboard pixels now read as black while the solid pixels show the brightened original colors, and the eye blends them back into the complete picture.

How to make a tap to reveal image

1. Upload the picture you want to hide behind the tap.
2. Paint any area that should stay visible in the timeline thumbnail (a teaser outline or a caption, for example).
3. Adjust the output size, optional line art and brightness boost to fine-tune the preview.
4. Download the PNG8 file.
5. Post it on x.com from a desktop browser, wait 1–2 minutes, then check the timeline on mobile.

Why use this tap hold maker?

Most generic editors export RGBA PNGs, which X handles differently from indexed PNG8. This tool matches the encoding strategy used by the leading kakushie generators, so the hiding effect is reliable on both light and dark timelines. You also get a live preview, undo / redo and precise brush controls — without sending your image to a server.

Other names for this effect

People search for it as tap hold, tap and hold, X tap and hold, tap to reveal, click to reveal, X hidden image, Twitter hidden image, transparent PNG trick, kakushie or カクシエ. Whatever you call it, the payoff is the same: a surprise that only appears when someone interacts with your post.