The reveal format on X
Tap the post generator
The timeline shows a crop. The tap shows the whole thing. All it takes is one picture cut into matching pieces on a single post.
- Runs in your browser
- Free, unlimited
- No watermark
Drop an image here
JPG, PNG, WEBP or GIF. Read by your browser, never uploaded.
Choose an imageor paste with Ctrl / ⌘ + V
Quick templates
Tile shape
Paper
Output format
Your tiles
How it looks in the timeline, before anyone taps
What it is
A post with several images doesn't show the images — it shows one card with them arranged inside it, cropped to a wide shape. So there are two versions of any multi-image post: the one people scroll past, and the one people get if they stop. Put one picture across all the tiles and that gap between the two views is the whole format. The preview is the hook, the tap is the payoff.
Making one that works
The mechanics take about a minute. The idea is the hard part, and it comes down to one question: what does the crop hide?
- Put the hook in the middle band. Thats the part the timeline shows. Nothing interesting there and nobody taps.
- Put the reveal at the top or bottom. Those are the strips the card trims away.
- Make the crop look complete. The best ones don't look cropped at all. They look like an ordinary post until you open it.
Formats that work
| Idea | Timeline shows | The tap shows |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom out | A close crop of something ordinary | The wider scene |
| Punchline | The set-up | The line underneath |
| Long artwork | The middle of the piece | The whole thing at full size |
| Comic | The first panels | All four, readable |
Attaching them
The order you attach files in is the order they appear, left to right and top to bottom. Attach 1, 2, 3, 4 and the mosaic assembles correctly. One post, all the files at once — spread across several posts and none of this works.
How to make one
- Start with an image where the interesting part is in the middle and the reveal is at the edge.
- Pick 2×2 for four tiles, or 2×1 for a pair.
- Position the crop, watching the timeline preview to see what gets hidden.
- Attach all the tiles to one post, in order.
Questions
What is the tap-the-post trend?
Posts where the timeline preview is cropped and tapping reveals something more. It works because multiple attachments get arranged into one wide card with the top and bottom trimmed off.
How many images do I need?
Two or four — those are the layouts that tile evenly. Three attachments are arranged as one tall image plus two half-height ones, which no equal split matches.
What order do I attach them in?
The order they are numbered here: left to right, top to bottom.
How much gets cropped?
Roughly the top and bottom, down to a wide card. The exact amount varies with the client and the screen, so treat the preview as a guide and leave yourself some margin.
Can I do this on other networks?
The files work anywhere, but the effect depends on how each network lays multiple attachments out. Bluesky and Mastodon both do something similar. Instagram does not — it shows a carousel instead.