An omni-directional digital image capturing and processing system for use in a POS environment, comprising a system housing having horizontal and vertical housing sections. The horizontal housing section has a horizontal imaging window, and contains (ii) a first plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations, for generating and projecting a first group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through the horizontal imaging window, and (ii) at least one area-type illumination and imaging station disposed in the horizontal housing section for generating and projecting an area-type illumination and imaging zone through the horizontal imaging window. The vertical housing section has a vertical imaging window, and contains a second plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting second group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through the vertical imaging window, which intersect with the first group of coplanar illumination and imaging planes and the area-type illumination and imaging zone, within a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the horizontal and vertical imaging windows, for omni-directional digital imaging of the object passing through the 3D imaging volume. Digital linear images of the object are generated as the object intersects the coplanar illumination and imaging planes, and digital area-type digital images of the object are generated as the object intersects with the area-type illumination and imaging zone, within the 3D imaging volume during system operation.