The invention relates to a method for forming a filter medium, which is suitable for filtering fluids, for a filter element, said method having at least the following steps: —applying at least one self-contained sealant (16, 28) onto a fluid-permeable media web (14) in a specifiable direction (26), —producing a solid composite at least between parts of the sealant (16, 28) and the media web (14), —pleating the composite, thereby forming individual filter folds, —producing a hollow body such that in order to —obtain at least one seal region on the media web (14), the respective sealant (16, 28) is arranged on the inner face of the hollow body, a seal is produced for each filter fold, and an end-face seal of the media web (14) is produced. An application medium is applied as the sealant (16, 28) onto the media web (14) in a strip-shaped manner along at least one longitudinal edge (51) of the media web (14), said sealant forming the respective seal region when cured.