Shading Depth Question
Hi.
So, I know when outlining you shoot for 1.5-2mm depth to prevent blowouts and because you want the ink precisely in the dermis layer so it stays.
Everything I am reading/watching for smooth shading is saying to layer in ink by "scratching the surface" or "working with the tips of the needles". It all warns not to go to deep because you deposit too much ink and won't get smooth blends and will end up with blotches.
Here is what I don't get...if I am layering by grazing the surface of the skin or just using the tips of the needles, then how is the ink staying? How does shading stay after years of shedding and healing at what is probably 0.5-1mm, at most, but outlines should be a full additional mm deeper?
Is it because layering just forces ink into the very top of the dermis? If that's the case, how do lighter tones persist? I am just a little confused on the science/anatomy bit of how shading through layering works on real skin (I only work on fake skins and probably will only ever work on fake skins because I enjoy it as a way to decompress, I am just genuinely curious about how this works).