An optical cable, comprising: - a cable body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a lumen , wherein the cable body has a profile feature formed on the outer surface ; - one or more optical transmission elements located within the lumen ; - an ink layer adhered to the outer surface of the cable body , wherein the ink layer forms alphanumeric characters that provide information related to the optical cable, - wherein the profile feature is located at the position of the ink layer such that the profile feature provides asymmetry to the cable body in cross-section; - wherein the profile feature includes at least one of a recess, a groove, and a trough that has a surface located below the outer surface of the cable body adjacent to the profile feature, and wherein the profile feature further includes at least one of a peak, a ridge, and a buttress adjoining the at least one of a recess, a groove, and a trough , whereby the profile feature mitigates damage, abrasion, or wearing off of the ink layer due to limiting contact to the ink layer during use or installation of the optical cable; - wherein the profile feature includes an array of grooves formed on the outer surface of the cable body , wherein each groove defines a trough having a lower surface and peaks located on either side of the trough ; and - wherein the ink layer is formed from a series of ink dots that are adhered to the outer surface of the cable body over the groove array such that various ink dots are located on the surfaces of the troughs and the peaks , and wherein ink dots that contribute to a single alphanumeric character span multiple grooves . - a cable body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a lumen , wherein the cable body has a profile feature formed on the outer surface ; - one or more optical transmission elements located within the lumen ; - an ink layer adhered to the outer surface of the cable body , wherein the ink layer forms alphanumeric characters that provide information related to the optical cable, - wherein the profile feature is located at the position of the ink layer such that the profile feature provides asymmetry to the cable body in cross-section; - wherein the profile feature includes at least one of a recess, a groove, and a trough that has a surface located below the outer surface of the cable body adjacent to the profile feature, and wherein the profile feature further includes at least one of a peak, a ridge, and a buttress adjoining the at least one of a recess, a groove, and a trough , whereby the profile feature mitigates damage, abrasion, or wearing off of the ink layer due to limiting contact to the ink layer during use or installation of the optical cable; - wherein the profile feature includes an array of grooves formed on the outer surface of the cable body , wherein each groove defines a trough having a lower surface and peaks located on either side of the trough ; and - wherein the ink layer is formed from a series of ink dots that are adhered to the outer surface of the cable body over the groove array such that various ink dots are located on the surfaces of the troughs and the peaks , and wherein ink dots that contribute to a single alphanumeric character span multiple grooves . <EOS>