A machine vision system comprising: a camera assembly; a first lighting unit in communication with the camera assembly, the first lighting unit provided at a first position relative to an object and adapted to emit light of a first range of wavelengths in synchronization with operation of the camera assembly to illuminate at least a portion of the object and cast a first shadow; and a second lighting unit in communication with the camera assembly, the second lighting unit provided at a second position and adapted to emit light of a second range of wavelengths in synchronization with operation of the camera assembly and concurrently with emission of light from the first lighting unit to illuminate at least a portion of the object and cast a second shadow and, in combination with emission of the light of a first range of wavelengths emitted by the first lighting unit, a third shadow; and an analysis system in communication with the camera assembly; wherein the first range of wavelengths does not overlap the second range of wavelengths; wherein the camera assembly is adapted to capture, in a single colored image, at least a portion of the object, at least a portion of the first shadow, and at least a portion of the second shadow and at least a portion of the third shadow; wherein the analysis system is adapted to analyze at least three monochrome image planes taken from said colored image, to determine depth edges and discontinuities of the object; and wherein the three monochrome image planes respectively include an image plane of the light of the first range of wavelengths, an image plane of the light of the second range of wavelengths and an image plane of the light of a third range of wavelengths which overlaps the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths. a camera assembly; a first lighting unit in communication with the camera assembly, the first lighting unit provided at a first position relative to an object and adapted to emit light of a first range of wavelengths in synchronization with operation of the camera assembly to illuminate at least a portion of the object and cast a first shadow; and a second lighting unit in communication with the camera assembly, the second lighting unit provided at a second position and adapted to emit light of a second range of wavelengths in synchronization with operation of the camera assembly and concurrently with emission of light from the first lighting unit to illuminate at least a portion of the object and cast a second shadow and, in combination with emission of the light of a first range of wavelengths emitted by the first lighting unit, a third shadow; and an analysis system in communication with the camera assembly; wherein the first range of wavelengths does not overlap the second range of wavelengths; wherein the camera assembly is adapted to capture, in a single colored image, at least a portion of the object, at least a portion of the first shadow, and at least a portion of the second shadow and at least a portion of the third shadow; wherein the analysis system is adapted to analyze at least three monochrome image planes taken from said colored image, to determine depth edges and discontinuities of the object; and wherein the three monochrome image planes respectively include an image plane of the light of the first range of wavelengths, an image plane of the light of the second range of wavelengths and an image plane of the light of a third range of wavelengths which overlaps the first range of wavelengths and the second range of wavelengths.