Digital image capturing and processing network for use in a retail POS environment, comprising a plurality of digital image capturing systems, and a remote image processing server. Each digital image capturing system is installed at a POS station and includes a system housing having an imaging window and containing a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations, for generating and projecting a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through the imaging window, and into a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window, and producing digital images of objects passed through the 3D imaging volume. The remote image processing server is arranged in two-way data communication with each digital image capturing system, for (i) receiving and processing digital images produced by each digital image capturing system, (iI) performing at least one information abstraction process on the digital images, and (iIi) transmitting information back to the POS station regarding said information abstraction process.