Ablation-type printing plates having increased shelf-life are produced using a melamine resin free of water prior to use. A representative production sequence includes providing a substrate having an oleophilic surface; coating, over the substrate, an oleophilic resin composition having (A) a resin phase consisting essentially of a melamine resin substantially free of water and a resole resin, the resole resin being present in an amount ranging from 0% to 28% by weight of dry film, (B) a near-IR absorber dispersed within the resin phase, and (C) a sulfonic acid catalyst dispersed within the resin phase and being present in an amount ranging from 0.7% to 1.6% by weight of dry film; curing the resin composition to produce a dry film; following resin curing, coating an oleophobic polymer composition over the cured resin composition; and curing the oleophobic polymer composition.