Well, I am not quite sure if you have shot in complete darkness or masked these images, but indeed more elements in the scene do quite help RC to tell the motion. I do believe this is being done on a turntable, instead I would recommend you to shoot in a well lit scene with a visible background and instead of shooting from single position with a turntable, you should move around the object.
Regarding your pattern you used for the surface and the noise you are experiencing, this is not anything strange. Rather than writing the things down on the object use a spray or chalk powder or whatever works for you that creates many little freckled points all around the surface, while still not covering it completely.