Does setWidth(int pixels) use dip or px?

It uses pixels, but I'm sure you're wondering how to use dips instead. The answer is in TypedValue.applyDimension(). Here's an example of how to convert dips to px in code:

// Converts 14 dip into its equivalent px
Resources r = getResources();
int px = Math.round(TypedValue.applyDimension(
    TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_DIP, 14,r.getDisplayMetrics()));

The correct way to obtain a constant number of DIPs in code is to create a resources XML file containing dp values a bit like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <dimen name="image_width">100dp</dimen>
    <dimen name="image_height">75dp</dimen>
</resources>

Then refer to the resource in your code like so:

float width = getResources().getDimension(R.dimen.image_width));
float height = getResources().getDimension(R.dimen.image_height));

The float you have returned will be scaled accordingly for the pixel density of the device and so you don't need to keep replicating a conversion method throughout your application.