A method of processing seals (20), like leaf seals, in which seals (20) an annular gap, formed between two coaxial, cylindrical surfaces, is sealed off in the axial direction by a multiplicity of individual, thin sealing elements (22; 22a, b) which, with an orientation deviating from the radial direction, extend transversely through the gap and are fixed at their end assigned to the one cylindrical surface and bear loosely with the other, free end against the other cylindrical surface. An improvement in the sealing geometry is achieved in a simple manner in that, for the uniform orientation of the free ends of the sealing elements (22; 22a, b), in a first step, the sealing elements (22, 22a, b) are brought to bear with their free ends against a coaxial cylindrical surface having a predetermined diameter (D) in such a way that they are subjected to a bending stress, and in that, in a second step, the sealing elements (22; 22a, b) subjected to the bending stress are subjected to a heat treatment in such a way that the bending stress is completely removed.