The stretch leveling or stretch-bend leveling of aluminum or stainless steel strip of a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm is carried out following a measurement of strip nonplanarity or strip profile by regulating the stretch in the stretch leveler or the contour of a roller thereof or both and/or by regulating the depth of penetration or degree of bending by the stretch-bend rollers. The tension in the strip just before coiling is varied in response to measurement of the thickness of the strip across the width, thereby optimizing the leveling and surface qualities of the strip.