Method of marking a rubber article, the method comprising: generating a recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) in the rubber article by removal of rubber material, the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) defining a digital code pattern; the digital code pattern comprising an array of code modules; the digital code pattern being a binary code pattern of which the code modules represent either a digital "0" or a digital "1"; the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) comprising a first recess portion and a second recess portion, the first and second recess portions being recessed with respect to an unaltered surface of the rubber article; the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) defining code modules with relatively low reflectivity, wherein a code module comprising a recess portion (122, 124) represents a code module with relatively low reflectivity compared to a code module with a relatively high reflectivity having no recess portion; the first recess portion and the second recess portion defining therebetween a protrusion protruding over a bottom (132, 134) of each recess portion; wherein a pitch between the first recess portion and the second recess portion is larger than 0.5 mm; or wherein the first recess portion and the second recess portion are part of a recess surrounding the protrusion and the protrusion has a base area of more than 0.2 square millimeters; the method further comprising generating at least one of the first recess portion and the second recess portion with an aspect ratio between 0.2 and 2, wherein the aspect ratio is defined as the depth of the recess portion over the width of the recess portion. generating a recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) in the rubber article by removal of rubber material, the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) defining a digital code pattern; the digital code pattern comprising an array of code modules; the digital code pattern being a binary code pattern of which the code modules represent either a digital "0" or a digital "1"; the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) comprising a first recess portion and a second recess portion, the first and second recess portions being recessed with respect to an unaltered surface of the rubber article; the recess pattern (122, 222, 322, 422, 522) defining code modules with relatively low reflectivity, wherein a code module comprising a recess portion (122, 124) represents a code module with relatively low reflectivity compared to a code module with a relatively high reflectivity having no recess portion; the first recess portion and the second recess portion defining therebetween a protrusion protruding over a bottom (132, 134) of each recess portion; wherein a pitch between the first recess portion and the second recess portion is larger than 0.5 mm; or wherein the first recess portion and the second recess portion are part of a recess surrounding the protrusion and the protrusion has a base area of more than 0.2 square millimeters; the method further comprising generating at least one of the first recess portion and the second recess portion with an aspect ratio between 0.2 and 2, wherein the aspect ratio is defined as the depth of the recess portion over the width of the recess portion.