diff --git a/lib/widgets/image_viewer.dart b/lib/widgets/image_viewer.dart
index 12317a4..81ca4a8 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/image_viewer.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/image_viewer.dart
@@ -31,9 +31,20 @@ class ImageViewer extends StatefulWidget {
     // an indicator like "5/3". Clamp instead of trusting the caller.
     final index = initialIndex.clamp(0, images.length - 1);
     Navigator.of(context, rootNavigator: true).push<void>(
-      MaterialPageRoute(
-        builder: (context) => ImageViewer(images: images, initialIndex: index),
+      PageRouteBuilder<void>(
         fullscreenDialog: true,
+        // Not a MaterialPageRoute: Android's M3 zoom transition scale-fades
+        // the incoming route, which on a black page holding one image reads
+        // as a ghost of the image growing into place. A quick plain fade
+        // fits a lightbox.
+        transitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 150),
+        reverseTransitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 150),
+        pageBuilder:
+            (context, animation, secondaryAnimation) =>
+                ImageViewer(images: images, initialIndex: index),
+        transitionsBuilder:
+            (context, animation, secondaryAnimation, child) =>
+                FadeTransition(opacity: animation, child: child),
       ),
     );
   }
diff --git a/test/widgets/detailed_post_view_media_test.dart b/test/widgets/detailed_post_view_media_test.dart
index 53fa113..6035603 100644
--- a/test/widgets/detailed_post_view_media_test.dart
+++ b/test/widgets/detailed_post_view_media_test.dart
@@ -49,10 +49,12 @@ class _RecordingObserver extends NavigatorObserver {
   ///
   /// MaterialApp's own initial `/` route is a `MaterialPageRoute<dynamic>`,
   /// and Dart treats `dynamic` and `void` as mutual subtypes — so a plain
-  /// `whereType<MaterialPageRoute<void>>()` would count it too. Callers
-  /// clear the log after pumping, and this getter is what they assert on.
-  List<MaterialPageRoute<void>> get pushedPages =>
-      pushed.whereType<MaterialPageRoute<void>>().toList();
+  /// `whereType<PageRoute<void>>()` would count it too. Callers clear the
+  /// log after pumping, and this getter is what they assert on. PageRoute
+  /// rather than MaterialPageRoute: the image viewer pushes a
+  /// PageRouteBuilder to opt out of the M3 zoom transition.
+  List<PageRoute<void>> get pushedPages =>
+      pushed.whereType<PageRoute<void>>().toList();
 
   /// Forgets routes recorded during setup, so only taps are counted.
   void reset() => pushed.clear();
@@ -903,7 +905,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(
         observer.pushedPages,
         hasLength(1),
-        reason: 'image tap pushes exactly one MaterialPageRoute',
+        reason: 'image tap pushes exactly one page route',
       );
 
       await tester.pumpAndSettle();
@@ -1264,7 +1266,9 @@ void main() {
       final videoRoutes = observer.pushedPages;
       expect(videoRoutes, hasLength(1));
 
-      final page = videoRoutes.single.builder(
+      // The video player still pushes a MaterialPageRoute; the cast is what
+      // exposes `builder` for building the page without mounting it.
+      final page = (videoRoutes.single as MaterialPageRoute<void>).builder(
         tester.element(find.byKey(_videoKey)),
       );
       expect(page, isA<FullscreenVideoPlayer>());