Background patterns play an important role in the design process. You can make Your work easier with online background pattern tools. Keep in mind that their capacity is not like that of graphic programs however, if You need striped, dotted or tiled backgrounds they are really useful and faster than others.

I have listed all online free background pattern generators which I use when I want to create striped, tiled, tartan or dotted backgrounds.

http://stripedbgs.com/
Easily make striped background images and save them to use as your iPhone or Computer's background image.

http://www.tartanmaker.com/
Generate seamless tartan patterns!

http://www.bgpatterns.com/
Web based tiled backgrounds designer, create any pattern your site needs just for few minutes. Adjustable size, pictures, colors, texture and transparency

http://www.stripegenerator.com/
Generate seamless striped background images!

http://www.pixelknete.de/dotter/index.php
A Web2.0 tool to generate a dotted background tile.

http://www.stripemania.com/
Striped background generator

http://www.stripedesigner.com/
Stripe Designer for web2.0. Now design a stripe or pattern is fast and easy!

http://bgmaker.ventdaval.com/
Background Maker for web, website background generator and pixel art tool. Draw pixels and watch it tile live in the background as a pattern. Create a tiled background and download the image to use it on your blog, website or whatever

http://lab.rails2u.com/bgmaker/
Background Image Maker

http://www.tilemachine.com/
Online tiled background machine

http://tools.dynamicdrive.com/gradient/
Gradient images are used everywhere in web page design, ie, as the background of form buttons, DIVs, to act as shadows and other interesting visual effects etc.

http://www.ogim.4u2ges.com/
Online Gradient Image Maker (OGIM) is a unique online application capable of generating wide variety of gradient images with up to 9 transition color points without owning and having experience with graphics design applications such as Photoshop.