Pinch Hand Gesture

A pinch brings the thumb and index fingertips together while the index finger stays pointing forward and the other fingers curl.

Try it on cameraSee it animated

How to make the Pinch gesture

  1. Bring thumb and index tips together
  2. Keep the index pointing forward
  3. Curl the other fingers

What it means

Pinching is the everyday "small amount" sign and the familiar zoom and grab gesture from touch screens and AR headsets.

How the camera recognizes it

The thumb and index tips are close together and the index finger is still extended. A fully curled index reads as Fist, so a fist never triggers sparks by accident.

Effect: Particle Spark

Particle Spark showers yellow sparks from the pinch point that drift, fall and fade out.

Tips for reliable detection

  • Keep the index finger straight, touching only at the tip.
  • Open and close the pinch to release bursts.
  • Try it with both hands.

Animated variations

The in-app guide demonstrates the Pinch in 4 animations, including versions with both hands:

  • Pinch
  • From fist
  • Form
  • Both hands

Related gestures